Updated 6:30pm — A Boeing 737-800 passenger jet crashed as it was landing at the Rostov-on-Don airport in southern Russia, the country’s Southern Regional Emergency Center said Saturday.

CNN Television says the plane attempted to make it’s first landing at 1:20am local time – but due to severe weather had to go around, but didn’t try the second attempt until two hours later.  The Russian Govt forecaster says weather conditions at the time were severe with 100km/h winds with rain and snow mixed with low visibility.

CCTV shows a large explosion during the second fatal attempt and a horrifying sight of the plane apparently falling fast before landing.

The airport has been closed because the plane has crashed across the runway.