A tragedy has happened today: an aircraft of the RF Ministry of Defence crashed over the Black Sea.

      The aircraft Tu-154, lost from radar screens 20 minutes after its departure (5:40 am by Moscow time, December 25) from Sochi, was going to the Khmeimim Air Base in the city of Latakia, Syria. According to media, the aircraft fell into the sea in the 7th minute of flight.

      The aircraft had 92 people onboard, including 84 passengers and 8 crew members. Among them there were the military (8 people), journalists (9 people), and members of the Alexandrov Ensemble (64 persons), who flew to greet the Russian military personnel at the Russian air base of  Khmeimim.

      Moreover, famous public figure Elizabeth Glinka, the executive director of the "Fair Help" Charity Fund, a member of  at the Russian Presidential Concil for Development of Civil Society and Human Rights was onboard too. As reported, she was going to deliver medicines to the university hospital in Latakia.

      According to preliminary information, the air disaster was caused by piloting error or technical malfunction. The Federation Council Defence and Security Committee denies the version of a terrorist attack aboard.