MOSCOW, December 25 (RAPSI, Diana Gutsul) – Military Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee in Sochi launched a criminal case after crash of TU-154 military plane over Black Sea, carrying 84 passengers and 8 crew members, RAPSI learnt on Sunday.

Case was launched under the article 351 of Russian Criminal Code (violation of flight rules, which entailed grave consequences).

The committee announced that the plane was carrying out planned flight to Syria with 84 passengers and 8 crew members. The plane refueled at Adler’s airport and shortly after disappeared from radars. Searches for the crash site are being conducted by rescue services of the Defense Ministry and Ministry of Emergency Situations. Investigative measures are currently underway.