6 killed in Russian short-range passenger plane crash near China border


Russian officials said Wednesday that a short-range passenger plane has crashed on approach to landing in far eastern Russia, killing six people.

The Investigative Committee said the L-410 twin-engine turboprop has crashed while trying to land at a small airport near the village of Nelkan. The aircraft, which belonged to regional carrier Khabarovsk Airlines, was on a regular flight to Nelkan from Khabarovsk, which is near a border with China.

Authorities said a 3-year old girl survived Wednesday's crash with non-life threatening injuries. Her parents weren't on the flight.

Investigators were looking at adverse weather, a crew error or technical malfunctions as possible reasons behind the crash.

The L-410 is a Czech-made short-range aircraft developed in the 1960s. A few regional airlines in Russia use such planes among other international operators.