Plane carrying Russian hockey team crashes, 43 dead, 2 survive

Added by on September 7, 2011

Yak-42D Aircraft / File photo

A Russian plane carrying hockey team Lokomotiv Yaroslavl crashed just after takeoff on Wednesday at 4pm local time (12pm UTC/GMT), killing 43 with two survivors; there were eight crew members onboard aboard.

The plane, a Yakovlev-42 aircraft, crashed into a river about 2km from the Tunoshna airport in Russia’s Yaroslavl region, just after takeoff. The plane failed to gain altitude and witnesses said the plan appeared to be listing to its right side.

Among the dead are former Detroit Red Wings assistant Brad McCrimmon, 52 and Jan Marek and Josef Vasicek, both members of the World Championship-winning Czech team of 2010.

Update: The survivors of the crash are reported to be Russian player Alexander Galimov and one member of the crew – both are reported to be in hospital. Galimov is reported to be critical condition with burns to about 80% of his body.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin ordered Russia’s transport minister, Igor Levitin, to start an investigation at the crash site immediately.

The Russian Hockey Federation published the following message of sympathy on its website: “The FHR expresses its deepest condolences to the bereaved families and relatives, fans and the entire hockey community”.

Team Lokomotiv Yaroslavl was traveling to Minsk for its opening match against team Dinamo Rlga, which was scheduled to be played on Thursday.