The Antonov An-148 plane operated by the domestic Saratov Airlines was flying to Orsk, a city in the Urals, and crashed in the Ramensky district outside Moscow. Russian news agencies reported 65 passengers and 6 crew were on board.
News agencies said witnesses in the village of Argunovo saw a burning plane falling from the sky.
A source from Russia's emergency services told Interfax that the 71 people on board "had no chance" of survival.