A plane heading from India to Russia crashed in Afghanistan, Russian Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) said on Sunday.
According to them, the plane crashed in the Badakhshan province due to a technical malfunction. The agency did not specify the model of the plane or the estimated number of people on board.
The crashed plane, registered in Russia, was en route from India to Uzbekistan and Russia's Zhukovsky airport of Moscow, according to the Russian aviation watchdog. Preliminary data indicates that the aircraft carried six individuals, including four crew members.
The search for the plane is underway. Rosaviatsia is in touch with the aviation authorities of Tajikistan and Afghanistan.
The Investigative Committee of Russia has launched a criminal case into the crash of a plane in Afghanistan.
India Says the Plane Registered in Morocco
Following the incident Ministry of Civil Aviation of India said that the plane was registered in Morocco.
"The unfortunate plane crash that has just occurred in Afghanistan is neither an Indian Scheduled Aircraft nor a Non Scheduled (NSOP)/Charter aircraft. It is a Moroccan registered small aircraft. More details are awaited," the ministry said in a statement.
Russian Embassy Is in Contact With the Afghan Side Regarding the incident
Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman later said that Russian embassy in Kabul is in contact with the Afghans officials regarding plane crash.
"The Russian Embassy in Afghanistan is in cooperation with the local side. Contact was established immediately after receiving a request from the Federal Air Transport Agency. We are grateful to the Afghan side for the assistance provided in the search work," Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman told Russian media.