In Pictures: Patna plane crash

An airliner crashed into a residential area near Patna airport in eastern India.

Most of the passengers and crew and some people people on the ground were killed.

Firefighters and medical workers sifting through the wreckage have found some people alive.

The jet was about to make its scheduled landing at around 0730 (0200 GMT) when it crashed into a housing estate and burst into flames.

The plane broke up when it hit the ground

Local people tried to put out the flames ...

... but most of the Alliance Air jet was left a molten mess

A huge crowd gathered to see the devastation

This survivor was comforted by Aviation Minister, Sharad Yadav

Moving the badly injured from the crash site was a slow process

The mother of one of the air hostesses feared the worst

IV Datta's brother Sourav was on board the plane