Jet Was Transporting Members Of A Russian Hockey Team

Members of the Russian ice hockey team Lokomotiv were among those fatally injured when the Yak-42 jet they were aboard went down near the city of Yaroslavl on the Volga River Wednesday. Two people have reportedly survived the accident.

Media reports including the Associated Press indicate the plane went down just after takeoff from Yaroslavl. The team was traveling to Minsk for its opening game of the Kontinental Hockey League season. The team confirmed that its 37-man main squad was aboard the flight, and one, Aleksandr Galimov was one of the survivors. The other survivor was the flight engineer.

The online news service RT reports that an air traffic controller told Itar-Tass that the plane had reached an altitude of about 180 feet when it banked left and went down, striking a beacon tower.

The accident will be investigated by the Interstate Aviation Committee. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has placed Transport Minister Igor Levitin in charge of the initial investigation at the scene.

FMI: www.mak.ru/english/english.html