The death toll in Monday's air crash near the Urals city of Tyumen has risen to sixteen, an Emergencies Ministry spokesman said, RIA Novosti reported.
"Sixteen bodies have been found on the crash site. Twelve people were injured. They are being taken by helicopters to Tyumen's City Hospital No. 1," the spokesman said.
An ATR-72 plane bound from Tyumen to Surgut fell on takeoff on Monday at 5:50 a.m. Moscow Time. Preliminarily, there were 43 people - 39 passengers and four crew - on board.
At least five of those injured are in critical condition, doctors at City Hospital No. 2 said.
A rescue operation headquarters spokesman said the aircraft fell some two kilometers (1.2 miles) from the Gorkovka village a few kilometers from Roshchnino Airport.
A criminal case has been opened, Investigative Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin said.
The reason for the crash has not been identified yet.