Updated 16.10
A passenger plane carrying 71 people has crashed in Russia, with officials saying it is believed there were no survivors.
The AN-148 aircraft had disappeared from radars shortly after taking off from Domodedovo Airport in Moscow.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Russian president said: "Vladimir Putin expressed deep condolences to all those who lost their relatives and friends as a result of the crash of a passenger aircraft in the Moscow Region.
The Emergencies Ministry said it had sent crews to the crash site.
Russian media reports the crews could not get to the site by vehicle and had to go by foot.
Tass news agency added that Russian authorities have confirmed fragments of the plane have been found, around 40 kilometres from the airport in Moscow.
The domestic plane was being operated by Saratov airlines, and had 65 passengers on board, along with six crew members.
It was flying to Orsk, a city in the Urals.
According to Flight Radar it took off at 11.22am (local time) and five minutes later it was tracked descending rapidly before the signal was lost.
Saratov Airlines flight #6W703 has crashed about 5-6 minutes after take off from Domodedovo Airport in Moscow.
During the last seconds before it crashed the aircraft was falling with up to 22,000 feet per minute.
The aircraft involved was a 7 year old Antonov An-148. pic.twitter.com/0ENfhyI9Ts
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) February 11, 2018
Witnesses in the village told local media they saw a burning plane falling from the sky.
In a tweet, showing two emergency vehicles, the ministry explained the recovery process would involve 150 people and 20 vehicles.
К ликвидации поÑледÑтвий ÐºÑ€ÑƒÑˆÐµÐ½Ð¸Ñ Ñамолета Ðн-148 привлечены Ñилы и ÑредÑтва общей чиÑленноÑтью более 150 человек и Ñвыше 20 единиц техники.
Приведены в готовноÑÑ‚ÑŒ Ñилы центра «Ð›Ð¸Ð´ÐµÑ€», отрÑда ЦентроÑÐ¿Ð°Ñ Ð¸ ÐогинÑкого ÑпаÑательного центра, а также вертолет Ми-8 ЖуковÑкого ÐСЦ МЧС. pic.twitter.com/EPy83gEz9B— МЧС РоÑÑии (@MchsRussia) February 11, 2018
The Russian-made AN-148 was seven-years-old and was bought by the airline one year ago.
The government has said a special commission will be established to investigate the cause of the crash.
