Weston Family Appears Among Dead In Russia Plane Crash
WESTON (CBS4) - A family of four from Weston may be among the dead in a fiery plane crash in northwest Russia early Monday, according to information supplied by the Russian government
The Russian Emergency Ministry reported that Lyudmila Simanova, her husband Alexander Simanov and their two daughters Yelizaveta Simanova and Yekaterina Simanova were on the RusAir flight that crashed just before landing at Besovets Airport.
They were the only U.S. citizens on-board, and according to the Russian government held dual citizenship with Russia.
A public records search showed Alexander Simanov has an address in Weston, and the South Florida Sun Sentinel cited Broward School officials as saying Yelizaveta attended Falcon Cove Middle School and Yekaterina was enrolled to start kindergarten at Gator Run Elementary.
CBS4's Gio Benitez spoke with Falcon Cove's principal who said that Yelizaveta, known as "Liza" to classmates, was a bright, gifted student. He said the family spent every summer in their native Russia.
Russian transportation officials say pilot error and bad weather may have been to blame for the crash that killed 43 passengers and 9 crew members.
Eight people survived the crash.
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