A Russian passenger plane's emergency landing in a cornfield near Moscow after birds were sucked into its engines has been hailed by state media as a "miracle".

Russian plane makes emergency landing, lands in cornfield

The pilot of a Russian passenger plane that erupted in a ball of fire on the runway of Moscow's busiest airport, killing 41 people, said lightning led to the emergency landing.

Pilot says lightning caused deadly Russian crash landing

As relations continued to deteriorate, Moscow also demanded an official explanation for the search of a Russian passenger plane in London on Thursday and said it could reserve the right to take similar action against British airlines in Russia.

UK-Russia standoff deepens as Moscow cuts UK diplomats

The plane, which crashed minutes after taking off from Moscow, was carrying 65 passengers and six crew

All 71 on board crashed Russian plane dead: Investigators

WION Evening News Brief, February 11, 2018

The Saratov Airlines plane was carrying 65 passengers and six crew