Aircraft with 10 people onboard fighting forest fires 'missing' in Russia

A Russian Ilyushin plane with 10 people on board has been reported missing in the Irkutsk region, in south-east Siberia.

The aircraft was earlier reported to have 11 people on board, but the number was revised downwards to 10 people.

The aircraft was on a mission to help put out forest fires in Russia's Irkutsk region, according to RIA Novosti news agency.

The agency reported that the aircraft was circling territories stricken by forest fires in Russia's Irkutsk region, but failed to report back to rescuers at the scheduled time.

"The aircraft with rescuers on board should have made contact at 6:30 Moscow time [3:30 a.m. GMT] but failed to do so," the source told RIA Novosti.

The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations confirmed the incident, noting that a rescue helicopter had been sent on a search mission.

The ministry has also dispatched an additional rescue mission from near Moscow, equipped to conduct search operations in difficult terrain.

"Two SuperJet-100 planes with an Emergency Ministry task force and an Il-76 with 100 parachutist rescuers are ready for takeoff at the Ramenskoye airfield near Moscow," the ministry said.More details to follow

source : gulfnews