At least 18 people were injured after a plane skidded off the runway in Sochi International Airport and caught fire early on Saturday, the Russian Health Ministry said.

The accident did not result in any deaths, however, state-run broadcaster Russia Today said a staff member at the airport died from a cardiac arrest as they were responding to the incident.

A Boeing 737-800 plane operated by Russian airline Utair made a rough landing at the airport in the Russian resort city amid strong winds and rain conditions, overshooting the runway, breaking through a fence and ending up on a riverbank.

In the process, the plane's landing gear and one of its wings were destroyed, and the left engine caught fire.

The plane was carrying 164 passengers and 6 crew members, who were all promptly evacuated.