Bodies of 10 victims of Russia's Tu-154 aircraft crash near the resort city of Sochi have been recovered, the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed Sunday.

    "According to specified data, bodies of 10 victims were collected by the rescue ship. We are bringing more search and rescue forces to the crash area of the defense ministry’s Tu-154 plane. The search area of 10.5 square kilometers has been formed," the ministerial press service said in a statement.

    Over 3,000 people, including divers and pilots, are taking part in the search operation at the crash area, the defense ministry added.

    The Russian Defense Ministry Tu-154 plane with 92 people on board crashed in the Black Sea en route to Syria shortly after refueling at an airport in the resort city of Adler. Most of the passengers were members of the Alexandrov Ensemble, who were traveling from Moscow to Hmeymim airbase in Syria to take part in New Year celebrations.

Source: QNA