Russian Defense Minister Leading Search, Rescue Operation at Tu-154 Crash Site

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu is personally directing the search and rescue operation at the site of Russia's Tu-154 aircraft crash near the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, the ministry's spokesman Igor Konashenkov said Sunday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The Russian Defense Ministry Tu-154 plane with 92 people on board crashed in the Black Sea en route to Syria shortly after refueling at an airport in the resort city of Adler. Most of the passengers were members of the Alexandrov Ensemble, who were traveling from Moscow to Hmeymim airbase in Syria to take part in New Year celebrations.

"The search and rescue operation is directed from the National Defense Management Center [in Moscow] by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu," Konashenkov said at a briefing.

Earlier in the day, the ministerial commission led by Russian Deputy Defense Minister Pavel Popov arrived in city of Sochi to investigate the Tu-154 crash.

Crash of Tu-154 plane in Sochi

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