44 passengers die in plane crash
Forty-four people have been killed and eight injured in a plane crash in north-western Russia.
The aircraft came down on a motorway close to Petrozavodsk airport in the republic of Karelia, close to the Finnish border, and burst into flames.
The Russian-built Tupolev Tu-134 operated by RusAir was carrying 43 passengers and nine crew. Some of the survivors, including a 10-year-old boy, are said to be in critical condition in hospital.
Russian media are reporting that among those killed were a Swedish national and a Russian Premier League football referee.
The plane came down late at night while flying in thick fog from the capital, Moscow, to Petrozavodsk. It just missed houses built close to the motorway.
There was no immediate explanation for the crash, but the airport's director is reported to have said that there had been "unfavourable weather conditions". The crash site is less than a mile from the airport runway, whose fog-lights had failed.
The plane's flight recorders have reportedly been recovered.
Prosecutors say a criminal investigation into the possible neglect of air transport rules is under way.
RusAir is a privately-owned, Moscow-based airline that specialises in charter flights in western Russia and eastern Europe.
The crash happened on the eve of Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin's planned appearance at the Paris Air Show today to support dozens of Russian firms seeking sales contracts.
It comes just over a year after a Russian-built Tu-154 crashed in Smolensk, killing Polish president Lech Kaczynski and 95 others.
By Linsey McNeill
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025