A passenger plane with nearly 50 people on board has crashed in Russia's northern republic of Karelia.

Local media and officials said at least 40 people were killed.

The plane, a Tupolev 134, crashed on a motorway about 15 kilometers away from Petrozavodsk airport late Monday. It caught fire after the crash, which damaged the fuselage before it was extinguished.

Investigative official Vladimir Markin said the plane was carrying 43 passengers, including eight children, and five crew members.

The plane was enroute from Moscow to Petrozavodsk when it crashed. No other details were immediately available.