Russia hunts for clues amid snow after fatal plane crash claims 71 lives

Investigators scoured the scene today after a passenger plane crashed near Moscow minutes after take-off, killing all 71 people on board, in one of Russia's worst-ever plane crashes. Emergency workers have found 200 body parts strewn across a snowy field near Moscow at the site of the plane crash.

Body parts found among and around the Saratov airlines are to be removed on Monday as a group of 600 rescue workers continue to comb the area with the help of Russian aircraft.

The site of the crash was enveloped in heavy snow that was waist-high in places, making it difficult to access, with emergency workers forced to reach the wreckage by foot and use snowmobiles.
Russia's Investigative Committee said it would consider explanations for the crash including human error, technical failure and weather conditions, as the country has experienced record snowfall in recent weeks.