At least 32 people have died after a Russian plane with 43 people on board crashed shortly after takeoff 30km (18 miles) from the western Siberian city of Tyumen. Of the 11 survivors, five were in a serious condition in hospital. They were airlifted to safety by helicopter.

Russia's Itar-Tass news agency said there were 39 passengers and four crew on board.

The ATR 72, a twin-engine, turboprop plane, belonging to Russian airline UTair, crashed after taking off from Tyumen on a flight to Surgut, an oil town further north in Siberia, Reuters reported.

The plane disappeared from radar at 05:35 local time (01:35 GMT), the BBC added.

The plane burst into flame when it hit the ground. The cause of the crash was being investigated.

Some reports suggest that the flight recorder has been found.

Reuters said the crash was the most lethal air disaster in Russia since a Yak-42 plane crashed into a riverbank near the city of Yaroslavl after takeoff in September, killing 44 people and wiping out the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl ice hockey team.

Russia