AT LEAST 44 people have died after a passenger jet crashed onto a highway in heavy fog about a mile short of a runway in north-western Russia.

The RusAir plane broke up on impact and caught fire soon afterwards, impeding rescue efforts. Eight people survived the crash, but are injured.

Russian officials have launched an investigation to determine if there was any mechanical issue at play in the crash and say that high-intensity airport lights failed to light properly to guide the plane as it landed.

Local airport chief Alexei Kuzmitsky said that early information suggested the plane had itself clipped power lines as it descended, cutting electricity to the runway lights.

Photo: Russia Emergency Situations Ministry/AP

People nearby launched an immediate rescue attempt when the plane crashed and tried to pull people from the wreckage, but Russia Today reports that one witness broke down as he explained that they had to abandon their efforts when the fire broke out.

The victims included citizens from Russia, Ukraine, Sweden and the Netherlands, as well as two people who held dual Russian-American citizenship.

This Associated Press video shows emergency crews at the scene of the crash:

- Additional reporting by the AP