Moscow - All nine crew members died when a Russian Antonov An-12 cargo plane crashed Monday near the airport of Chelyabinsk in the Urals, the news agency Interfax reported.

The crew had attempted an emergency landing after spotting smoke in the cabin, the news agency quoted officials saying.

Theaircraft belonging to Moskovia airlines was not carrying an cargo when it crashed about 10 kilometres from Chelyabinsk, witnesses were quoted as saying. (dpa)