A Russian Air Force Ilyushin Il-76MD cargo plane crashed near Ryazan and was destroyed by fire. Four crew members died in the crash while five were injured.
Shortly after takeoff the air traffic controller reportedly observed a fire in engine no.4. The Il-76 touched down in a field and rolled until it struck trees. The aircraft broke up and burst into flames.
Local media report that one engine was found in a field about 1 km before the accident site.
The Ministry of Defense reported that the plane operated on a training flight from Orenburg to Belgorod, and landed in Ryazan for refueling.
The local branch of Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry said there was no destruction to infrastructure as a result of the crash.
Video showed at least one charred engine separated from the fuselage lying on a green meadow near woods, a highway and houses. Pieces of the plane were strewn on the meadow, some in flames.
The four-engine Il-76 was designed in the 1970s and has served as the main heavy-lift cargo plane for the Soviet and Russian air force. Many other countries have also used the plane.
Most Ilyushin-76 aircraft are at least 30 years old.
