16 killed as Russian plane crashes in Tatarstan

Moscow: A Russian plane crashed in the Tatarstan region killing 16 people and injuring six, news agency Interfax reported Sunday.

The plane was carrying a group of paratroopers and crashed in the Menzelinsk region of Tatarstan, killing 16 people and injuring six, the Emergencies Ministry said.

The Let L-410 Turbolet twin-engine short-range transport aircraft, the plane was owned by an aeroclub in the city of Menzelinsk, the TASS news agency reported.

The RIA agency cited local authorities as saying one of the engines could have failed.

Photographs of some of the parachutists on board posing in kit or with a plane were circulated on the REN TV channel and on social media.

According to the source, the plane crashed at about 09:11 Moscow time.

"We received information about the crash of a light-engine aircraft near ... the town of Menzelinsk. The information is preliminary, units of the Menzelin fire and rescue garrison are on their way to the scene", the ministry said in a statement.