A Russian Defense Ministry flight carrying 91 people has crashed into the Black Sea. The Tu-154 aircraft en route to the Syria port city of Latakia disappeared from radar shortly after taking off from the resort city of Sochi.

Photo taken on Dec. 25, 2016 shows a vessel and a helicopter taking part in a rescue operation on the Black Sea coast at the crash site of Russian Defense Ministry's TU-154 aircraft. The wreckage of a missing Russian military Tu-154 aircraft has been found in the Black Sea, Defense Ministry authorities said on Sunday. (Xinhua/Sputnik)

Russia Today News Agency quotes security sources as saying wreckage has been found near the coast of Sochi. 83 passengers and 8 crew members were on board.

Military personnel, journalists, and the famous Alexandrov military band were among the passengers. Preliminary analysis suggests the plane may have had some technical problem or pilot error.