Russian military plane crashes in Far East

Published: 10:49PM Saturday November 07, 2009 Source: Reuters

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A Russian military plane with 11 people on board has crashed in the Pacific Ocean during a training flight.

News agencies reported that a search was under way for the crew. RIA news agency quoted an unidentified high-ranking source within the military as saying finding survivors was unlikely.

The Tu-142 plane disappeared from radar screens at 1117 GMT on Friday while flying over the Tatar Strait, which separates the Russian mainland from the island of Sakhalin, Itar-Tass news agency quoted the Defence Ministry as saying.

Russia has one of the world's worst air safety records, with elderly Soviet-era planes and dated airport facilities contributing to a grim crash toll.

Eleven people died when a cargo aircraft crashed this month in the eastern Russian region of Yakutia.

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