Rescuers have found the bodies of thirty people killed when an airliner flying from southern Russia to the country’s second city of St Petersburg crashed in eastern Ukraine. Russia’s Emergencies Ministry says the Tupolev TU one five four was operated by Pulkovo Airlines, and was carrying one hundred and sixty passengers and eleven crew. The plane came down forty-five kilometres north of the city of Donetsk.

The flight was bound for St. Petersberg from Anapa on the black sea. Initial reports suggest a fire broke out on the plane at ten thousand metres altitude, after it hit severe turbulence. The pilot had time to radio a distress call before attempting an emergency landing.

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