An airliner flying from Dubai has crashed while trying to land in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, killing all 62 people on board.

Officials say the Boeing 737 aircraft was FlyDubai flight FZ981. Fifty-five passengers and seven crew members were aboard the flight. Russia’s Investigative Committee says its two theories are that human error or technical failure contributed to the crash.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said providing assistance to relatives of the victims is “a priority,” according to a Kremlin spokesman.

Dubai-based airline FlyDubai and the Boeing aircraft company have both expressed condolences to the families of the victims. FlyDubai says the passengers included 33 women, 18 men and 4 children.

The Dubai Media Office says the victims include 44 Russians, eight Ukrainians, two Indians and one person from Uzbekistan. Earlier reports had said the passengers were all Russian.

FlyDubai CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith said the airline staff is “in deep shock” and added that the airline is working with the authorities to establish the cause of the crash.

Ghaith also said the airline has set up call centers for relatives of passengers.

U.S.-based Boeing says it stands ready to provide technical assistance upon request of the government agencies involved.

Reports say the plane circled the airport in rain and strong winds for two hours, making at least one attempt to land before crashing and bursting into flame.  Another plane bound for Rostov-on-Don is reported to have diverted south to the Krasnodar airport and landed safely.

FlyDubai is a government-owned low-budget airline linked to the Emirates airline. It has been flying to Russia since 2013.
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