Russian passenger plane crashes outside Moscow; all 71 on board Saratov flight 6W703 perish

A Russian passenger plane with 71 people on board crashed shortly after taking off from Moscow airport on Sunday, media reports say.

Russian news agency RT reported that none of the 71 on board survived after the Saratov Airlines’ plane crashed near the town of Argunovo in Moscow province.

The Antonov AN-148 plane was flying to the city of Orsk when it disappeared from radar screens, Interfax said. Among those on board, 65 were passengers and 6 were crew.

RT also reported that the crash site was only accessible on foot due to weather conditions on the ground. A criminal investigation has been opened into the crash.

UPDATE at 7.55 pm

Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered condolences to families of those killed. Authorities say “all lines of inquiry into plane crash are open”.

RT has published on Twitter, the first video coming in of the crash site:

With IANS inputs.