Russian emergencies ministry: passenger plane crashes in Siberia, killing at least 7

Plane crashes in northern Siberia, at least 7 dead

MOSCOW — A twin-engine passenger plane crashed early Tuesday near a northern Siberia town, killing at least seven of the 15 people on board, Russia’s Emergencies Ministry said.

Initial reports indicated that all those aboard the Antonov-24 turboprop were killed, but ministry spokeswoman Irina Andryanova later said seven were confirmed dead and the fate of the others was being determined.

The plane crashed from an altitude of about 700 meters (2,300 feet) as it was approaching the airport of the town of Igarka, above the Arctic Circle, Andryanova said. She said there were four crew members and 11 passengers aboard the plane; An-24s have a capacity of about 45 people.

Igarka is in the sprawling Siberian region of Krasnoyarsk, some 2,500 kilometers (1500 miles) east of Moscow.

Russian news reports said the plane belonged to the small regional airline Katekavia.