A Flydubai Boeing 737 originating from the United Arab Emirates first circled the airport in Rostov-on-Don for two hours before crashing.
A Dubai jetliner crashed in Russia early on Saturday, killing all 62 passengers and crew members.
Footage from the crash site in Rostov-on-Don in southern Russia shows a huge debris field covered in what appear to be tiny pieces of the Boeing 737 aircraft.
Russian authorities say the flight made one attempt to land in snowy conditions and high winds before circling the airport for two hours.
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On its second attempt to land, the jet clipped the runway and exploded in a massive fireball that pulverized the aircraft.
According to the Associated Press, investigators quickly recovered both flight recorders. While the cause of the crash wasn't immediately known, investigators immediately ruled out terrorism.
Russian investigators said it would take months to complete their investigation.
State media released CCTV footage of what they say is the flight crashing to Earth at a steep angle before exploding in a fireball.
Data from Flightradar24 indicates the started to fall with vertical speed of up to 21,000 feet per minute.
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Most of the passengers were Russian, according to reports. Seven crew members of various nationalities were killed.
There were four children on the flight.
"Flydubai very much regrets to confirm that the accident involving flight number FZ981 at Rostov-on-Don earlier today," the budget airline said in a statement. "The nationalities of the deceased passengers include 44 Russians, eight Ukrainians, two Indians and one Uzbekistani."
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