Xi sends condolences to Putin over Russian plane crash

President Xi Jinping on Monday sent a message of condolence to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, over a plane crash in Russia.

In his message, Xi said he was shocked to hear about the tragedy in Russia's Republic of Tatarstan, which caused heavy casualties.

He expressed deep condolences over the fatalities and offered sincere sympathies to the bereaved families and the injured.

Sixteen people were killed and six others injured after an L-410 aircraft crashed in Russia's Tatarstan on Sunday, TASS news agency reported.

The plane carrying two crew members and 20 parachutists crashed immediately after takeoff from a local airport. Both pilots were killed and the survived have been hospitalized in serious condition.

The L-410 is a twin-engine light aircraft that can carry up to 19 passengers. It has been in operation since 1987.

Overloading, technical malfunction or crew errors could be the cause of the tragedy, TASS said.