MORE than 40 people miraculously survived a plane crash in the north of Russia when a huge An-26 aircraft smashed into a snowfield.
The mangled jet – which cracked in two on impact – landed in a part of the Arctic known as the “end of the world” near Utrenniy airport.
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The captain, co-pilot, and one passenger were injured in the icy crash – but 41 people survived.
Chilling pictures show the destroyed plane with its nose pointing up at an awkward angle in a bank of snow.
Emergency workers crowd around the aircraft’s tip in the harsh, icy environment.
The Utair flight vanished from radar screens as it attempted to land in thick fog and snow at the newly built airport in the far north of Russia.
The plane has flown across the Gulf of Ob in the Arctic from Vladimir Putin’s LNG port Sabetta on the Yamal peninsula.
On board were 36 passengers and five crew.
The plane came down in a snowfield some 360 miles northwest of regional capital Salekhard which straddles the Arctic Circle.
An airline spokesman said: “An An-26 plane flying from Sabetta to Utrenny made an emergency landing after the weather deteriorated dramatically, amid heavy fog and strong wind.
“All 36 passengers and five crew members were evacuated to the airport building.
“One passenger and two crew members were lightly hurt and received medical assistance.”
An Interfax report made clear that the plane crash landed more than one mile from the airport.
A formal investigation was launched into the reasons for the crash landing.
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