A  non-stop search operation is ongoing for a Russian military plane with 92 people on board that crashed inti the Black Sea.  The flight data recorder, which is the "black box" of flight Tu-154 has been found, according to Russian officials.

The remains of 16 people had been found so far. 

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More than 3,000 people are currently involved in the operation including 139 divers, ships, planes, helicopters, and submersibles.

A security official told TASS that after examining the black box, there were no signs that an explosion or a fire had occurred onboard the plane before it crashed into the Black Sea.

Cause of Plane Crash

Russian Transport Minister Maksim Sokolov said on Monday that authorities do not believe the plane was taken out by a terrorist attack.

Russia's Federal Security Service said that no evidence had been found linking the crash to terrorism.

"The four main versions are an engine being hit by a foreign object, substandard fuel that caused the loss of thrust on and eventually stopped the engines, the pilot's mistake and the plane's technical failure," the FSB said.

Flight Tu-154 is a military plane that was carrying several passengers including soldiers, reporters, and more than 60 members of the internationally-renowned Red Army Choir (Alexandrov Ensemble), who were bound for Syria to entertain Russian troops for a New Year concert.

The flight had originated in Moscow and landed in Sochi for refueling then the plane disappeared from radar two minutes after taking off from Sochi's Adler airport at 05:25 (02:25 GMT) on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has directed Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev to establish and head a government commission that would conduct an investigation into the incident. 

TagsRussia Plane Crash, Search Operation, Tu-154 plane, Red Army Choir