11 survive Russian plane crash

Moscow, April 2 (IANS) Eleven people were injured and 32 people were killed when their aircraft crashed Monday near a city in Siberia, Russian authorities said.

A UTair ATR-72 plane bound from Tyumen to Surgut fell on takeoff Monday at 5.50 a.m.. There were 39 passengers and four crew on board.

The toll in the air crash near the Urals city of Tyumen has risen to 32, the regional department of the Emergencies Ministry said.

Eleven people were injured in the crash. All those injured are in intensive care, doctors said.

All crewmembers died, a source close to air traffic controllers told RIA Novosti.

A rescue operation headquarters spokesperson said the aircraft fell some two km from a village near Roshchnino Airport.

A criminal case has been opened, Investigative Committee spokesperson Vladimir Markin said.

Rescuers have discovered both flight recorders on the site. The reason for the crash has not been identified yet.

Valentin Tarasov, a deputy prosecutor in Tyumen, said one person who was to have flown on board the aircraft failed to appear for the flight, which may have saved his life.