MOSCOW. Dec 26 (Interfax) - Russia's Industry and Trade Ministry is setting up a commission to investigate Thursday's crash of a cargo aircraft near Irkutsk, Russia, Interfax was told at the ministry.
"The management of the Irkutsk Aircraft-Building Plant has gone to the site of the crash," a ministry source said.
According to the Emergency Situations Ministry, the crash of the Antonov An-12 turboprop claimed nine lives.
An Emergency Ministry team also went to the crash site.
The plane had reportedly belonged to the Irkutsk Aircraft-Building Plant.
A source told Interfax the plane had been part of a test aircraft fleet overseen by the Industry and Trade Ministry, while the Eastern Siberian Investigation Department for the Transportation Industry said investigators were trying to find out whether the Antonov was a civilian or military aircraft.
The Irkutsk plant produced 154 An-12 planes between 1959 and 1962.
The An-12 has a maximum speed of 660 kilometers per hour, a range of 5,530 kilometers, and a maximum flight altitude of 10,000 meters. It can carry a maximum commercial payload of 200 tonnes.