Russian hockey players among 44 killed in jet crash

At least 44 people were killed Wednesday when a Russian jet carrying hockey players to their first match of the season crashed on takeoff in the latest blow to the country's tainted air safety record.

The Yak-42 passenger jet took off from Yaroslavl airport about 300 kilometres (185 miles) northeast of Moscow just as a two-day political forum expected to be attended by President Dmitry Medvedev got under way.

A source told Interfax that the plane suddenly start listing to the left and crashed about 500 metres (yards) away from the Tunoshna airport.

According to the latest data, there were 45 people on board - 37 passengers and eight crew. AFP