Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang on early Wednesday led a team composed of transportation, health, work safety, and security officials to Yichun City, northeastern Heilongjiang Province, to deal with the aftermath of and investigate the cause of a plane crash.

A passenger plane carrying 96 people crashed late Tuesday night near the runaway of the Yichun airport and engulfed in blaze.

Rescuers have recovered the bodies of 43 passengers and another 53 injured passengers have been hospitalized, according to local officials.

(Xinhua News Agency August 25, 2010)