Russia Plane Crash: Authorities say 65 passengers, 6 crew have died

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The scattered debris of a plane that was carrying 71 people. Not a single one survived. Minutes after taking off, the Saratov passenger aircraft disappeared from radar - then plummeted to the ground about 80 kilometers from Moscow.

In terms of the cause: early details were scarce as investigators and emergency crews began working the crash site.

SVETLANA PETRENKO, SPOKESPERSON RUSSIAN INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEE "The debris of the plane are spread over a radius of at least one kilometre. Investigators are using modern investigative equipment taking into consideration the large territory. They are using quadrocopters to get a view from the air."

Officials will be looking at weather conditions and human error as possible causes. Russia has seen record levels of snowfall this winter.

And yet, as many prepared to depart for their holidays, the roll call of the dead came out. Every victim named online. Russian President Putin sent his condolences and immediately set up a special commission to investigate what happened. In the meantime, flights are continuing.

DAN ASHBY MOSCOW "Thousands of people around me are getting ready to fly as journalists find out any details they can as to how a plane could fall from the sky. It is a national tragedy, in a year when Russia's planes will be used on more than ever before."

Russia is hosting the 2018 World Cup at a time when fans, players, and officials will be flying between venues. For now, there are many questions about what happened and few answers. Dan Ashby, CGTN, Moscow.