A Russian passenger jet crashed near Moscow on Friday, killing its crew of three.

The Sukhoi Superjet 100, operated by Gazprom avia, went down in a forest near the village of Apraksino, about 90 kilometers southeast of Moscow.

The aircraft was flying without passengers, having taken off from an aircraft plant in Lukhovitsy after undergoing repairs, and was en route to Moscow’s Vnukovo airport when it crashed eight minutes into the flight.

The cause is not yet known, but initial reports suggest possible engine failure due to bird strikes.

The Investigative Committee has launched a probe into the incident, the Associated Press has reported.

The Superjet 100, introduced in 2011, has had a mixed safety record despite being promoted as a significant advancement in Russian civil aviation.

Written by B.C. Begley