Article Posted on : - Mar 06, 2011

The AN-148

MOSCOW (AFP): Six crew members, including at least two citizens of Myanmar, died when a plane they were testing crashed in central Russia Saturday, Russian news agencies reported.

The bodies of six crew members were found after the AN-148 plane crashed around 130 kilometres (80 miles) from the city of Voronezh, the regional emergency ministry said, cited by the RIA Novosti news agency.

At least two citizens of Myanmar were on board and the plane was undergoing tests prior to being sent to Myanmar, a source in Voronezh aircraft factory told RIA Novosti.

"The plane had been tested for two weeks. This was its first flight today. It was being prepared for Myanmar. There were at least two Myanmar citizens on board and at least two Russians," the source said.

The plane disappeared from the radar at 10:40 am (0740 GMT), and a plane flying over the area later spotted a fire where it crashed, the source said.

The AN-148, designed by Ukraine's Antonov factory, is a jet plane with a regional range that can be used for passengers and cargo.