Chinese Passenger Plane Crashes with 96 on Board

The ill-fated aircraft took off shortly before 21:00 pm local time from the Chinese provincial capital, Harbin. File Photo

A passenger plane with 96 people on board has crashed in the north-eastern Chinese province of Heilongjiang, BBC reports, citing Chinese national media.

The Henan Airlines aircraft came down near Yichun City's Lindu airport at about 22:10 pm local time, according to the Xinhua news agency. The Embraer ERJ-190 (E90) had taken off shortly before 21:00 pm from the provincial capital, Harbin.

Emergency services were rushing to the scene of the crash, the officials said.

Henan Airlines earlier told Xinhua that the plane was carrying 96 people of which 91 are believed to have been passengers.