Putin orders air safety measures

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin instructed the government to draw up plans in the next 10-12 days for making Russia's civil aviation sector safer.

"I ask you to submit in 10-12 days comprehensive proposals to address the problems of which I spoke," Putin said.

All aircraft must receive upgraded control and surveillance systems, he said, adding that those that cannot be re-equipped should be withdrawn from service.

Russia has suffered a string of deadly air incidents in 2011, most recently on September 7, when the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl professional hockey team was wiped out in a crash.

Lokomotiv's chartered plane crashed shortly after take-off near Yaroslavl, killing 43 of the 45 people on board. One of the two survivors died earlier today.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev instructed the government to ground those air carriers that do not meet flight safety standards by November 15, the Kremlin said on Sunday.