At least one woman has died and another thirty-four people were hospitalized after an ensuing explosion and fire of a Russian Tu-154M passenger jet that made an emergency landing in the Siberian city of Surgut on Saturday due to an engine flaming out on takeoff, the Russian Health Ministry said.
Four of those hospitalized after the fire on board the Tu-154M aircraft from Kogalymavia Airlines are in critical condition; one child is on intensive care, a spokesperson for the Health Ministry said. Health ministry's chief toxicologist and other health officials are rendering aid to the victims of the explosion.
Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency spokesman Sergei Izvolsky said there were 116 passengers and eight crew members on board the plane which was to land at Moscow's Domodedovo Airport.
A criminal case has been launched in connection with the airplane accident. Several hours after the explosion the Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) announced on its website it has forged a commission to probe the accident.
Russia's Transport Minister Igor Levitin said that an inter-departmental commission to look into the causes of the explosion was set up.
MOSCOW, January 1 (RIA Novosti)
