Plane goes off runway at Moscow airport

MOSCOW: A Russian airliner on Saturday was on fire and badly damaged after it overshot the runway after landing at Moscow's Vnukovo airport, state television said, quoting the interior ministry.

The plane burst through a perimeter fence and ended up burning on a highway next to the airport, state television said, showing a still picture of the stranded plane.

News agency reports said only a small number of people were on board -- eight passengers and four crew -- but this was not immediately confirmed.

An emergencies ministry spokeswoman confirmed to state television that the plane had a hard landing but had no information on any casualties.

"A Tu-204 jet made a hard landing at Vnukovo airport," spokeswoman Natalia Smirnykh told state television.

"According to preliminary information, there were passengers on board the plane.

"A total of 204 staff and 12 pieces of equipment from the Emergencies Ministry are working on-site."

"Information about how many people were on board is still being verified," she added.

State television said that traffic on the Kiev Highway next to the airport at been halted as a result of the accident.

The plane belonged to Russian airline company Red Wings and had arrived from the Czech Republic, the news agency reports said.