UPDATE - 92 onboard Russian military plane crashing in Black Sea

UPDATES DEATH TOLL AND PASSENGER LIST

By Hakan Ceyhan Aydogan

MOSCOW (AA) - A total of 92 people were on board a military plane that crashed in the Black Sea near the coastal city of Sochi early Sunday, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.

The list of passengers on board the Tu-154 released by the ministry includes 64 musicians from the Alexandrov Ensemble (also known as the Red Army Choir), nine journalists, eight soldiers, two ministry officials, and one member of an NGO.

Russian media reports suggest that the body of one victim was found at the crash site, as search and rescue efforts are underway with air and naval support from Russian vessels and helicopters.

"The debris of the Tu-154 found in 1.5 km from Sochi coast," Russia's official TASS news agency earlier quoted the emergencies services as saying.

The cause of the crash is not yet known.

The Kremlin's Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that President Vladimir Putin was informed about the incident.

The plane was en route to Syria’s Latakia province for a Christmas concert. The aircraft disappeared from radar shortly after leaving Russian city of Sochi, according to Russian Defense Ministry.

The Red Army Choir also performed a concert in Istanbul in January 2014.