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The Latest: Pilot error, technical fault behind Russia crash

Candles are placed around a photo of the crashed Tu-154 in memory of victims of the crashed plane in the center of Sochi, Russia, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2016. A Tu-154 operated by the Russian Defense Ministry en route to Syria crashes into the Black Sea minutes after takeoff from Sochi. Everybody aboard the plane are thought to have perished and the cause of the crash is not immediately known. (AP Photo/Viktor Klyushin) Candles are placed around a photo of the crashed Tu-154 in memory of victims of the crashed plane in the center of Sochi, Russia, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2016. A Tu-154 operated by the Russian Defense Ministry en route to Syria crashes into the Black Sea minutes after takeoff from Sochi. Everybody aboard the plane are thought to have perished and the cause of the crash is not immediately known. (AP Photo/Viktor Klyushin)

By Associated Press December 26, 2016 6 min read

MOSCOW (AP) – The Latest on the crash of a Russian aircraft with 92 people on board en route to Russia’s air base in Syria (all times local):

9 a.m.

Russian Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov says that pilot error or a technical fault were likely to blame for Sunday’s crash of a Russian Tu-154 carrying 92 passengers and crew. The military plane crashed into the Black Sea on its way from the southern Russian city of Sochi to Syria. Among its passengers were members of the world-famous Russian army choir who planned to perform at a New Year’s concert at the Russian military base in Syria.

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9:55 p.m.