Forty-eight people were confirmed dead after a plane crashed in Russia’s Far East region on Thursday, with search crews finding the aircraft's burning fuselage.

Almost 50 people including children are feared dead after a Soviet-era passenger plane crashed in Russia’s far eastern Amur region, state media reported on Thursday, citing local officials.

Marina Avalyan asked to be allowed off the Angara Airlines flight moments before takeoff after receiving a call from her family