All 39 on Il-18 'survive' plane crash in north of Yakutia, says Defence Ministry

Earlier reports suggested about 30 dead in the crash, but the Defence Ministry clarified: 'All the passengers and crew members are alive. 

'Sixteen people were seriously injured. Helicopters have evacuated all of them to health centres in Tiksi.'

In all, 32 passengers and seven crew members were on board the Il-18 when it crash-landed 19 miles off the Tiksi airfield on a routine flight. The plane had flown from Yekaterinurg in the Urals on a scheduled flight for military personnel.

All 39 on Il-18 'survive' plane crash in north of Yakutia, says Defence Ministry. Some 16 from the aircraft with military personnel on board are 'severely injured' and were flown by helicopter to hospitals in Tiksi

The cause of the crash was not immediately evident. Weather was said to be bad in the area. 

The plane was believed to have been carrying soldiers to the Arctic. 

A Defence Ministry source told Interfax that the plane had not given a distress signal, and that the flight took place in harsh weather conditions that could have led to icing of the plane.