Plane crash in Russia: at least 120 killed

The Airbus A-310, operated by Russia's S7 airline, had just completed a six-hour night flight from Moscow to Irkutsk, Siberia, when the pilot lost control.

Photo: Plane crash in Russia: at least 120 killed

Instead of slowing down as the plane touched down, witnesses said it increased speed, veered off the runway, smashed through the airport's 6ft perimeter concrete wall and ended up embedded in a nearby complex of garages, Independent reports.

At least 55 people remained in hospital late yesterday, being treated for burns, trauma and the effects of smoke inhalation. The fate of 12 passengers was unknown.

Many of those on board were children, including 14 pre-teen children, flying for holidays on Lake Baikal, a popular Siberian spot in summer, media reported. "It was awful. I saw people burning, they were burning," Margarita Svetlova, who survived the crash, told Russia's First Channel television, SABCnews.com reports.