"Tu-154 [aircraft] of the Defense Ministry departed from Sochi and disappeared from radars after some time. Its search is currently organized," the source said.

MOSCOW, December 25. /TASS/. A Tu-154 aircraft of the Russian Defense Ministry disappeared from radars after the takeoff from Sochi, regional emergency services told TASS on Sunday.

We are aware of reports of a missing Russian Tu-154 that departed Sochi. We are checking now if we received data from the aircraft.

Approximately 100 people were on board of the aircraft, the source said. "The exact number to be determined," the source added.

Aircraft was en route to Syria’s Latakia, a source in regional emergency services told TASS on Sunday.

"The aircraft departed to Latakia and then disappeared from radars. According to preliminary data, about 100 people were on board," the source said.

According to certain data, these are musicians and mass media representatives. TASS has no official confirmation of this information.