Parachute Plane Crashes And Kills 16 People, Russia Suspends Entire Let L-410 Flight

Illustration of a fleet of Let L-410 aircraft. (Wikimedia Commons/Aleksandr Markin)

JAKARTA - A plane carrying a group of parachutists crashed after takeoff in Russia's Tatarstan region on Sunday morning, killing 16 people and injuring six others, the Russian Emergencies Ministry said.

11, while at an altitude of 70 meters, the pilot reported the plane had a left engine failure, then tried to make an emergency landing in the city of Menzelinsk, trying to turn the plane to the left to avoid uninhabited areas, the regional governor said.

But the plane's wing hit the Gazelle's vehicle as it landed and overturned, said Tatarstan Governor Rustam Minnikhanov.

Meanwhile the Health Ministry said the plane was carrying 20 paratroopers and two crew members. Six people are in serious condition.

The twin-engine Let L-410 Turbolet short-haul aircraft is owned by an aeroclub in the City of Menzelinsk. Aeroclub declined to comment, citing a law enforcement investigation into the plane crash.

Russia's Investigative Committee, which investigates serious crimes, said it had opened a criminal investigation into alleged violations of safety regulations.

Separately, the Russian Army, Air Force and Navy Volunteer Society (DOSAAF) have suspended all flights of the L-410 aircraft pending the end of the investigation into the L-410 crash in Tatarstan, DOSAAF reported on Sunday local time.

"On the instructions of the Volunteer Chief of Army, Air Force and Navy, Alexander Kolmakov, all flights of the L-410 type aircraft have been suspended until the end of the investigation," DOSAFF said, TASS reported.

To note, cosmonauts use the area for training and the aeroclub has hosted local, European and one world championships, said club director Ravil Nurmukhametov, according to TASS.

Meanwhile, the state-run Cosmonaut Training Center has suspended its ties to the aeroclub pending an investigation.

To note, Russian aviation safety standards have been tightened in recent years, but accidents continue to occur, especially in remote areas.

An aging Antonov An-26 transport plane crashed in Russia's far east last month killing six people. Meanwhile, all 28 people on board the twin-engine Antonov An-26 turboprop aircraft died in a crash in Kamchatka in July.