AT LEAST 16 people were killed today when a plane carrying 20 skydivers crashed shortly after take-off in central Russia.

The L-410, a Czech-made twin-engine turboprop, went down near the town of Menzelinsk, about 600 miles east of Moscow.

The two pilots reported that their left engine had failed and attempted to make an emergency landing, but the plane’s wing hit a vehicle as it was brought to the ground, and overturned.