© Alexander Zemlianichenko/ AP Photo An aerial view of the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia.

MOSCOW (Reuters) - A Russian defence ministry Tu-154 aircraft has disappeared from radar with 91 people on board after taking off from the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russian news agencies reported on Sunday.

Russia's RIA news agency, citing an unidentified security source, said preliminary data indicated the plane had crashed because of a technical malfunction. It was not immediately possible to verify that report.

Those on board included Russian servicemen and artists from a musical ensemble who were on their way to celebrate the upcoming New Year with the Russian air force at the Hmeimin air base in Syria, RIA also quoted the Defence Ministry as saying.

Nine Russian journalists were also on board, it said.

(Reporting by Paul Tait and Polina Devitt; Editing by Robert Birsel)