15 dead in Russian military transport plane crash

New Delhi, Mar 12: A Russian military transport plane, carrying 15 individuals, crashed during take-off from an air base in western Russia, the Defence Ministry reported on Tuesday.

According to the ministry, the ill-fated Il-76 aircraft, carrying eight crew members and seven passengers, went down in the Ivanovo region. The statement released by the ministry did not confirm whether there were any survivors.

Preliminary investigations by the ministry suggest that an engine fire during take-off likely precipitated the crash.

The crash occurred during what was supposed to be a routine flight from the airfield. Moscow confirmed the crash site to be in the Ivanovo region, approximately 200 kilometres east of the capital.

In a statement relayed by Russian news agencies, the Defence Ministry stated, "An Il-76 military transport plane crashed in the Ivanovo region while taking off to perform a scheduled flight. On board were eight crew members and seven passengers."

The Ilyushin-76, a substantial cargo aircraft, has been a workhorse for the Russian military, facilitating the transport of troops and equipment across vast distances.