PERM, Russia - An Aeroflot passenger jet crashed near the Ural mountains in Russia yesterday, killing all 88 passengers and crew including 21 foreign nationals.

PERM, Russia - An Aeroflot passenger jet crashed near the Ural mountains in Russia yesterday, killing all 88 passengers and crew including 21 foreign nationals.

The Boeing 737-500 plane was on an internal flight from Moscow. It ploughed into wasteland while trying to land in the city of Perm.

Small pieces of debris covered a section of Russia's main east-west railway, forcing its closure, Russian media reported.

Television showed fire fighters walking around the smouldering, shattered remains of the plane.

One of the only recognisable pieces of the aircraft was a white fuselage panel showing the logo of Aeroflot, Russia's national carrier.

Investigators have found two recording boxes from the crash site which they hoped would reveal why the 16-year-old Boeing crashed. There was no suggestion of an attack or sabotage.

"There were 88 people on board, 82 passengers and six crew," said Emergencies Ministry spokesman Irina Andrianova.

"All of them died. There were no casualties on the ground."

Aeroflot said 21 foreign nationals were among those killed - nine from Azerbaijan, five from Ukraine and one person each from France, Switzerland, Latvia, the United States, Germany, Turkey and Italy.

Seven children died in the crash. - Reuters