Beijing, Aug 24 (PTI): A passenger plane with 96 people on board crashed in Yichun city in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province tonight, government and airline officials said.

The plane belonged to Henan Airlines and had 96 people on board when it crashed, the airline company said.

Officials in Yichun said the plane crashed at about 10:10pm (local time). However, there was no word on the fate of the people on board.

Rescuers are rushing to the crash site, state-run Xinhua news agency reported quoting sources.

The E-90 aircraft of Henan Airlines, with plate number VD8387, crashed near the Yichun's Lindu airport, Heilongjiang provincial civil aviation authorities said.

The plane took off shortly before 9pm from the provincial capital Harbin.


Update:

40 Injured in China Plane Crash 

Beijing, Aug 24 (IANS): More than 40 people were injured after a plane with 91 people on board overshot the runway while landing at an airport in northeast China late Tuesday, civil aviation authorities said.

The Henan Airlines aircraft crashed in Yichun City of Heilongjiang province at 9:36 p.m. There were 91 passengers, including five children, and five crew members, on board the plane which left the provincial capital Harbin at 8:51 p.m., officials with Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) said.

The jet was engulfed in blaze after it crashed. A heavy fog blanketed the airport, Xinhua reported.

A team of CAAC officials and technicians are leaving for Yichun to participate in the rescue and investigation.