Fear nearly 50 dead after Russia plane crash

A total of 43 passengers, including five children, and six crew members were on the flight from the city of Blagoveshchensk on the Chinese border to the town of Tynda

According to preliminary information, there were 43 passengers, including five children, and six crew members on board the plane. Picture: Russia Ministry of Emergency Situations/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images

A plane carrying about 50 people crashed in Russia's far east on Thursday and everyone on board was feared to have been killed, emergency services officials said.

The burning fuselage of the plane, which was made in the Soviet era and was nearly 50 years old, was spotted on the ground by a helicopter and rescue crews were rushing to the scene.