A Russian passenger plane crashed minutes after taking off from Moscow's Domodedovo Airport, killing all 71 passengers on board on February 11.

The plane was a routine regional flight from Moscow to Orsk in Russia’s southwestern region of Orenburg but disappeared from radar only minutes after leaving. It was carrying 65 passengers and six crew members. Three children – ages 5, 13 and 17 – were among the passengers, state news agency RIA reported.

Authorities quickly reached the crash scene close to Stepanovskoye in the Ramensky district in the Moscow Oblast and initial reports said they had begun recovering bodies, but would need genetic testing to identify the victims.

Social media showed tearful relatives gathering in the Orsk airport shortly after the news broke seeking more information.

Initial reports suggested the plane had collided with a Russian Post helicopter, but the state-owned mail service rapidly issued a statement debunking the reports, saying it does not own any helicopters. However, the unconfirmed reports said there was the debris of a second as yet unidentified plane near the wreckage of the passenger jet.

The plane, a Russian made An-148, belonged to Saratov Airlines, a regional airline. The plane is a relatively new design that was launched in 2004 and has a good track record.

The cause of the crash remains uncertain, the Investigative Committee of Russia said, but officials have launched a criminal investigation into the crash.

Moscow has been suffering from very bad weather in recent weeks, with some of the heaviest snowfall on record.