KARACHI, Dec 7: A four-member Russian team has joined in the investigation into the crash of a Russian-made cargo plane in the city, it emerged on Tuesday.

All eight crew members of the aircraft and four people on the ground were killed in the crash.

According to sources, representatives of two more countries are also expected to arrive in the city to join the investigation team, which, under the International Civil Aviation Organisation rules, must comprise representatives of countries/organisations who have any link with the aircraft, passengers, etc.

The ill-fated aircraft — IL 76 — and its engines were manufactured in Russia, though it was registered in Georgia. Seven of the crew members were Ukrainians and the pilot was Russian. The sources said that the representatives of all these countries, therefore, would have to be invited to join in the investigation.

The sources said that while the Russian team had already arrived in the city, a representative of the Ukrainian embassy in Pakistan had since been nominated and that he might join the probe team soon. Only the Georgian investigators were now awaited to complete the team.

The sources said that blood samples of the foreign crash victims' relatives were being obtained so that the bodies could be identified through DNA tests.

The sources said that body parts of many victims and the plane's equipment had been collected and quarantined. They would be examined in the presence of all members of the investigation team, they added.

The sources said that the Russian experts examining the wreckage of the plane and its equipment might be able to retrieve the black box.