The bodies of the 97 people who died when...
of CrashRussian television pictures from the crash site showed a scene of utter devastation, with emergencies ministry workers attempting to extinguish the flaming, scattered remains of the aircraft.
"The causes of the tragedy should be established in the shortest time possible within the framework of the government commission," Putin said after arriving at the scene of the disaster.
Shoigu said that a recording of conversations between the pilot and air traffic controllers showed that the pilot had ignored advice not to attempt to land at the airport.
Air traffic controllers suggested that he turn around and head for Minsk, the capital of neighboring Belarus, as the military aerodrome lacked the necessary navigational equipment to receive planes in heavy fog.
Lieutenant General Alexander Alyoshin, deputy head of Russia"s air force, said that the pilot had also ignored orders from air traffic controllers "to return to horizontal flight."