Child Survivor in Russian Air Crash Dies

A young survivor of the air crash in northwestern Russia died of his multiple injuries, bringing the death toll in the tragedy to 45, a health ministry spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

Anton Terekhin and his teenage sister Anastasia were among eight people who survived the Tuesday air crash in the country's region of Karelia that instantly killed 44 including their mother.

"Anton Terekhin died last night. He had grave injuries," spokeswoman for regional health ministry, Elena Kokovurova, told Agence France Presse.

In conflicting reports, officials said earlier the boy was nine, while the regional health ministry said he could be 10.

His 14-year old sister who was transferred to Moscow for treatment along with several other survivors is in stable condition, Kokovurova added.

The RusAir Tupolev 134 was trying to land at its destination of Petrozavodsk in Karelia region of northwestern Russia in bad weather but failed to make the runway and instead hurtled onto a road two kilometers away.

Investigators said it was too early to jump to conclusions but Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said the crash appeared the result of an error by the pilot who tried to spot the runway visually in bad weather and failed.