A Russian military plane with 92 people on board, including members of a famed army choir, has crashed into the Black Sea shortly after taking off. Reports from the Russian defence expressed pessimism about any sign of survivors. Reacting to the incidence, president Vladimir Putin announced a national day of mourning.

The Tu-154 plane took off from the southern Russian city of Adler today 25-12-2016 and was heading towards Latakia in Syria.

The published passengers’ list reveals that about 92 passengers who were on board had lost their lives. The affected passengers include 64 members of the renowned Alexandrov Ensemble, Russian charity doctor, nine journalists, one Russian army general, five colonels, the army’s official choir, and its conductor, Valery Khalilov. Tu-154 plane was headed to Syria to celebrate for New Year celebrations with the Russian troop at the Russia’s main base of operations for its military campaign in support of the Syrian government.

The Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad expressed sadness over the plane crash. In a condolence message sent to President Putin, Assad said the two countries were partners in the “fight to lay the foundations of stability, security and peace” in Syria.

The Russian head of Russian defence, Viktor Ozerov, said that he “totally excludes terrorism” as a possible cause of the crash. Confirming Ozerov’s statement, the national media reported that parts of the plane and undercarriage, and also an oil slick were found over an area covering several kilometres in the Black Sea.

Fragments of the plane was found at a depth of about 70 metres in the Black Sea about 1.5 km off the coast near the city of Sochi. Nevertheless, ships, five helicopters and a drone has been deployed for search and recovery of the passengers.