7 killed as Belarusian cargo plane crashes in Russia

MOSCOW

A Belarusian cargo aircraft crashed moments before landing near the Russian city of Irkutsk on Wednesday, killing all seven crew members on board, officials confirmed.

Grodno Airlines said its AN-12 freight plane was about to land near Irkutsk when it crashed, killing the crew from Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine.

Governor Irkutsk Oblast Igor Kobzev told reporters that seven bodies were found at the incident site.

Separately, Russia's Attorney General's Office stated it is investigating the possibility of two civilian passengers being on board.

The plane disappeared from radars shortly before the landing attempt on Wednesday afternoon and was spotted engulfed in flames due to a fuel leak, according to the country's Emergency Ministry.

Pilot error and technical malfunction, such as engine failure due to a collision with birds, are considered preliminary causes of the accident.