Five dead in Ukraine plane crash

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DONETSK, Ukraine, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- A plane carrying 45 people crash landed in Donetsk, Ukraine, killing at least five people, officials said.

One person was unaccounted for in the wreckage of the An-24 that was taking soccer fans from Odessa to Donetsk for a UEFA Champions League game Wednesday, RIA Novosti reported Thursday.

As many as 12 people were injured in the crash though most of the survivors were pulled from the wreckage before the plane caught fire.

Passenger Oleh Osheka said an engine "failed during the landing," causing the aircraft to list to the right as it hit the ground.

"The hull split, giving us a chance to leave the plane before the fire started," he said.

"I don't recall exactly what happened next. The cockpit turned upside down, the right engine caught fire, the left was smoldering. We left the cockpit and started pulling people out, because they were trapped by their seats," a crew member said.

Prime Minister Mykola Azarov ordered a special commission to investigate the cause of the crash, RIA Novosti reported.