Russia, lost contact with aircraft with 28 people on board

Russian authorities reported losing contact with a plane on which 28 people were traveling, including six crew members and two children. This was reported by the Russian agencies Ria Novosti and Tass citing the emergency services and explaining that the aircraft, an An-26, was traveling in the Far East. Departing from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the plane was bound for Palana on the Kamchatka Peninsula. Citing its own source, Tass says the plane may have crashed into the sea. Interfax instead speculates that the aircraft crashed near a coal mine near the city of Palana. Searches are underway by two helicopters and rescue teams.