The Tu-154’s main flight data recorder was found at the depth of 17 meters (56 feet), Russia’s Defense Ministry said. 

The ministry added that five more fragments of the crashed plane have been located.

The fragments have been found at the depth of 30 meters (98ft), Russia Today reported.

The fragments include the fuselage and parts of the engine.

At least 12 bodies from the plane crash have been recovered so far, the ministry said.

“During search operations, one of the black boxes was found under the aircraft’s cabin. It will be taken out of the water soon,” the military source said, adding that two more flight recorders located in the tail section of the plane are yet to be located.

“One of the key theories for the crash at the moment is that foreign objects penetrated the engine,” the source said, adding that other possible causes, such as pilot error and technical failure are being investigated.

The black box has been recovered from the sea and will be sent to Moscow, where it will be examined by specialists from Russia’s Defense Ministry, TASS reported, citing a law enforcement source.

The Russian Defense Ministry’s Tu-154 plane crashed into the Black Sea minutes after takeoff from Sochi’s airport, killing 92 people on board. The plane was en route to Latakia, Syria, transporting 64 members of the world-famous Alexandrov Ensemble army choir, humanitarian workers and several media crews to take part in Christmas and New Year’s celebrations.

Source: MENA