It's unknown who exactly was on the jet that snapped in two shortly after takeoff today, but 43 people are reported dead after a jet carrying the KHL team Lokomotiv. From Russia Today:
↵↵↵The plane went down and caught fire shortly after taking to the air. Preliminary reports say it had insufficient lift and hit a beacon tower. The crash site is between 500 and 1,000 meters from the runway, according to different reports.
↵The Yak-42 was on its way to the Belarusian capital Minsk and had 37 people on board, aviation authorities reported. The aircraft’s maximum capacity is 120 passengers and crew.
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Former St. Louis Blue Pavol Demitra is one of many former NHLers on the squad, who is one of the top teams in the KHL. A criminal investigation by the Investigative Committee and the Interstate Aviation Committee has also launched a probe.
↵There is no word yet as to who was specifically on board the plane, but it is feared that a majority of the team, coaches, and support staff are gone.
↵All of our thoughts and prayers are with the team, their friends, their families, and the KHL.
↵[Note by hildymac, 09/07/11 9:56 AM EDT ]
↵Hockey Wilderness confirms that Pavol Demitra was in fact on board the plane.
↵[Note by hildymac, 09/07/11 11:27 AM EDT ]
↵As confirmed by his agent and by the St. Louis Post Dispatch's Jeremy Rutherford, Pavol Demitra was on board the plane and is one of those killed in the plane crash.