MOSCOW, November 1 (RIA Novosti) - Rescuers...

The plane, an Il-76 Candid strategic airlifter, bound for the city of Irkutsk, fell and caught fire several minutes after take-off about three kilometers (1.9 miles) from Mirny airport. Seven crew as well as four members from a replacement crew had been on board.

"All eleven people died in the air crash," a spokesman for the ministry"s regional center said.

Facilities on the ground were not damaged. An investigation is underway.