Breaking: Russian plane disappears moments after take off from Sochi.

A Russian plane has vanished from radar moments after take off, it has been reported.

Tupolev-154 (TU-154) aircraft of Russian airline Sibir at Moscow airport. A similar Tu-154 airliner with 46 people on board went missing near the southern city of Rostov-on-Don during a flight from Moscow to the Black Sea resort of Sochi, officials said. According to the plane's owner, Siberian Airlines, 38 passengers and eight crew were aboard the Tu-154, which had been flying since 1982 (Photo: Getty

The airliner has set off from the Black Sea resort of Sochi on Christmas Eve carrying around 70 people, according to Russian media.

The missing jet is believed to be a Tu-154 belonging to the Russian Defense Ministry, RT reported.

According to RT, a source in the country's Emergencies Ministry told RIA Novosti: "According to preliminary data, a Russian Defense Ministry Tu-154 disappeared from radar screens after departing from Sochi.

"Approximately 70 people were onboard."

According to preliminary information the plane had 82 passengers onboard and ten crew members.

The aircraft is believed to have lost contact with air traffic control at 5.40am after taking off at 5.20am.

The Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviation) told RIA Novosti that the flight was “not civilian”. According to sources cited by Russia's LifeNews, the plane had allegedly been heading to Latakia province in Syria.