At least 11 killed in Russia plane crash

At least 11 people died in western Russia when a light plane carrying mainly parachute jumpers crashed near a small village, …

At least 11 people died in western Russia when a light plane carrying mainly parachute jumpers crashed near a small village, the Emergencies Ministry has been quoted as saying.

"Rescue teams have now finished their work. According to our latest data, 11 people have died out of 25 on board, 14 parachutists managed to escape, but two of them were injured and sent to (hospital)", ministry spokesman Victor Beltsov told Russia's NTV channel on Saturday.

The Czech-built L-410 plane came down near the village of Barki in the Tver region, about 180 kms (110 miles) north of Moscow, Itar-Tass news agency said.

Beltsov said earlier that the pilots had lost control of the aircraft when it started to break up at an altitude of 3,900 metres (11,700 feet), losing its tail and the left wing.

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It was not immediately clear why the aircraft began to disintegrate.