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Russian military Tu-154 aircraft disappears from radars after takeoff in Sochi – reports Russian military Tu-154 aircraft disappears from radar after take-off in Sochi
(35 minutes later)
Russian air traffic controllers have lost contact with a Tu-154 airliner reportedly belonging to the Russian Defense Ministry, sources in emergency services told Russian media. Russian air traffic controllers have lost contact with a Tu-154 airliner with 91 people on board, which disappeared from radar shortly after take-off in Sochi, the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed in a statement.
"According to preliminary data, a Russian Defense Ministry Tu-154 disappeared from radar screens after departing from Sochi. Approximately 70 people were onboard," a source in the country's Emergencies Ministry told RIA Novosti. Ninety-one people were on board the aircraft, including 83 passengers and eight crew members, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
According to preliminary information the plane had 82 passengers onboard and ten crew members. The plane took off from Sochi Adler Airport on a “planned flight” and failed to check in with the control tower at 5:40am Moscow time, the ministry said, adding that all rescue services in the region have been deployed to search for the missing plane.
Another source familiar with the matter told Interfax that the plane went off radar when the Tu-154 was still maneuvering in Russian airspace over the Black Sea, shortly after take off. "According to preliminary data, a Russian Defense Ministry Tu-154 disappeared from radar screens after departing from Sochi," a source in the country's Emergencies Ministry told RIA Novosti earlier.
The Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviation) told RIA Novosti that the flight was “not civilian”. According to sources cited by Russia's LifeNews, the plane had allegedly been heading to Latakia province in Syria.  “According to preliminary data, the missing Tu-154 arrived in Sochi from Chkalovsky airfield near Moscow for refueling. It is likely that it crashed in the mountainous area of the Krasnodar region,” another source told RIA.
Meanwhile, another source familiar with the matter told Interfax that the plane went off radar when the Tu-154 was maneuvering in Russian airspace over the Black Sea, shortly after take off.
“The plane disappeared from radar approximately 20 minutes after takeoff,” another source told RIA, adding that the plane departed at 5:20am local time and failed to check in with the tower at 5:40am.
The Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviation) told RIA Novosti that the flight was “not civilian”. 
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