Russian ice hockey striker Aleksandr Galimov was one of two survivors of Wednesday's air crash some 250 kilometres north-east of Moscow, according to news reports, dpa reported.
The Lokomotiv Yaroslav player was in a hospital in critical condition and doctors were fighting to save his life, Galomov's wife Marina told Interfax.
One crew member reportedly also survived the crash of the Yak-42 passenger jet. An estimated 43 people died in the accident.