A Boeing 737 passenger jet operated by FlyDubai Airlines crashed in the early hours of Saturday as it was landing at the Rostov-on-Don airport in southern Russia.
Russia’s Southern Regional Emergency Centre announced the crash.
Russian news agency, Tass, citing an official the emergency centre stated that all 55 passengers on board died in the crash alongside 6 crew members.
Flydubai Flight 981 had traveled from Dubai to Rostov-on-Don with 55 people aboard, the emergency center said.
State news agency Sputnik reported the airport would be closed until 6 a.m. Moscow time.
“We’re aware of reports coming out of Russia and our team is currently gathering more details,” Boeing Airlines tweeted.
AFP also tweeted an update to show that an official of the Russian government had confirmed that 61 people died in the early morning tragedy.
#UPDATE: 61 killed in plane crash in southern Russia: official
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) March 19, 2016
