At least six injured after plane crash in Russia

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At least six injured after plane crash in Russia

In Russia, six people were injured and the death of a plane carrying a group of parachute jumpers crashed after takeoff in Russia.

The aircraft wing hit a van as pilots attempted an emergency landing after one of its engines failed, causing the plane to flip over.

Two crew members were on board as well as 20 parachutists. Six survivors were left in a serious condition, the East European country s health Ministry said.

The governor of the region in southwest Russia said that the plane's pilots reported that their leftwing failed at a height of 70 metres and tried to land near the town of Menzelinsk.

Although the pilots turned leftwards to try to avoid an inhabited area, the plane wing hit a Gazelle vehicle which caused it to overturn, Rustam Minnikhanov said.

The Investigative Committee, the main investigating authority of the Russian government, said that it had opened an investigation into a suspected violation of safety regulations.

The Menzelinsk aeroclub that owned the L - 410 Turbolet aircraft declined to comment on the incident, citing the ongoing investigation.

The state-run Cosmonaut Training Centre is suspended from the club pending an investigation, according to Russia s TASS news agency.

TASS also report that the Russian Army, Air Force and Navy Volunteer Society have suspended all flights of L - 410 planes until the investigation is complete.

Although safety standards have been increased in recent years, aviation accidents continue to happen in remote areas in Russia and especially in remote areas.

Six people died last month after an AN- 26 aircraft crashed in the Far East near the Khrebtovaya mountain in the nation s Far East.

In July, 28 people died as an AN-26 crashed on the Kamchatka peninsula. The following month a helicopter with 16 people on board crashed in the same area, resulting in multiple casualties.