Russian plane crashes outside Moscow, 71 people on board dead

A Russian domestic passenger plane has crashed on the outskirts of Moscow after taking off from Domodedovo airport, Russian media reported.

Russian news agencies say 65 passengers and 6 crew were on board the Antonov An-148 operated by Saratov Airlines which was flying to Orsk.

According to the initial reports, Antonov An-148, a narrow-body regional airliner, was carrying 71 people including 6 crew members. Russia emergency services say there are no chances of finding survivors.

Russia has launched a criminal probe in the tragic incident and a forensic team was sent to the crash site while rescue teams have not reached the spot so far as they are unable to take their vehicles to the accident site hence they are going by foot, say local media reports.

According to the airport authorities, the jet went off Radar just two minutes after taking off from Domodedovo airport.

Russian news agencies said witnesses in the village of Argunovo saw a burning plane falling from the sky while Russian state television aired a video of the crash site, showing parts of the wreckage in the snow.

Russia has seen record high snowfalls in recent days and visibility was reportedly poor.

Russian authorities have confirmed that fragments of the crashed airliner have been found.