Reports from Russia say that 41 people have been killed in a plane fire on Sunday. The Russian made plane; Sukoi Superjet, was flying to the Arctic circle city of Murmansk carrying 79 passengers and crew when the pilots reported an emergency onboard and had to turn back.
Although the cause of the plane fire is still under investigation, Mr. Pyotr Egorov who survived the incident told local reporters that the plane was struck by lightning while other official statement cited engine fire as the initial cause for the inferno.
The deaths included two children and the President and the Prime Minister, Mr. Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev respectively, both extended their condolences to the bereaved families.