Russian top referee dies in airplane crash near Petrozavodsk

One of the most well-known Russian referees Vladimir Pettai was killed this night in Tu-134 airplane crash in Russian Karelia.

«According to the preliminary data, the list of victims includes the well-known football referee Vladimir Pettai,» stated the representative of Karelian Ministry of Emergency as quoted by Interfax.

According to RIA Novosti, the plane of RusAir airlines took off from Moscow on 22.30 on Monday and performed an impact landing a kilometer away from the airport of Petrozavodsk. Of the 52 passengers aboard, 44 were killed.

The 38-year-old referee lived in Petrozavodsk and had been already appointed to the Matchday 16 game of the Russian Premier League between Spartak Moscow and Rostov.