At least five confirmed dead, three survive in air crash in northeastern Laos

VIENTIANE. KAZINFORM - At least five people were confirmed dead and three found alive after an aircraft carrying representatives of the Lao government crashed on Saturday morning in the country's northeastern province of Xieng Khouang, sources told Xinhua.

State media reported that the air crash happened at around 6:30 a.m. local time on Saturday approximately 1,500 meters from Xieng Khouang's airport. High-ranking leaders of Laos, including the deputy Prime Minister cum the minister of defense, the minister of Public Security and the mayor of Vientiane are believed on aboard the aircraft. Sources from the Defense Ministry of Laos told Xinhua that it is a Russian-made aircraft AN74TK-300D. The aircraft crashed while carrying the representatives of the government to attend an event to commemorate the creation of the Lao army's 2nd Division. The same sources said no Chinese passengers were on board the aircraft. The exact number of the people aboard is unknown so far.