Flight recorder of crashed Russian military jet found in Black Sea

Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations boats and employees search for wreckage in the Black Sea, off Sochi. Photo / AP

A black box has been found in the wreckage of a Russian military plane that crashed into the Black Sea on Sunday, killing all 92 on board, the TASS news agency reports, citing a law enforcement source.

The source said the box, which contains flight information that could help identify the cause of the crash, would be sent to Moscow for analysis.

RT News quoted the source as saying one of the black boxes was found under the aircraft's cabin. Two more flight recorders located in the tail section of the plane are yet to be located.

Russia's defence ministry said in a statement later that the flight recorder was found a mile from the shore early today.

State television showed footage of rescue workers on an inflatable boat carrying a container with a bright orange object covered in water.

Ministry of Emergency Situations employees monitor computer screens as they search for bodies and wreckage in the Black Sea. Photo / AP

"One of the key theories for the crash at the moment is that foreign objects penetrated the engine," the source told TASS, saying other possible causes, such as pilot error and technical failure are also being investigated.

Investigators have so far said that pilot error or a technical fault were likely to have caused the Defence Ministry TU-154 to come down.

At least 12 bodies from the plane crash have been recovered so far, RIA Novosti reported, citing a police source.

The plane was carrying dozens of singers and dancers from the world-famous army choir the Alexandrov Ensemble to Syria to entertain Russian troops in the run-up to the New Year, as well as other passengers.

RT News reports the head of the choir, conductor and composer Valery Khalilov, as well as revered Russian humanitarian and charity activist Elizaveta Glinka (known as Dr Liza) were among the victims of the crash.

Russian rescue ships and boats search and collect wreckage from the crashed plane outside Sochi. Photo / AP

- Reuters, AAP and NZH reporters