Xi sends condolences to Putin over airplane crash

President Xi Jinping sent a message of condolence on Monday to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin over the fatal plane crash in Russia's Republic of Tatarstan.

A plane carrying a group of parachutists crashed in Tatarstan on Sunday, killing 16 people and injuring six, according to Russia's Emergencies Ministry.

Xi said in his message that he was shocked by the incident, which caused heavy casualties. He expressed deep condolences over the fatalities and offered his sincere sympathy to the bereaved families and the injured.

The plane, carrying two crew members and 20 parachutists, crashed near the city of Menzelinsk soon after taking off from a nearby airport. Both pilots were killed and the survivors have been hospitalized in serious condition.

Overloading, technical malfunction or crew errors could have caused the tragedy, Russia's TASS news agency said.

Agencies contributed to this story.