YAROSLAVL (Russia), Sept 8: Russia on Thursday mourned the 43 victims of a plane disaster that wiped out a top ice hockey team as President Dmitry Medvedev demanded officials put a stop to a string of air crashes.

An ageing Yak-42 plane carrying three-time Russian champions Lokomotiv Yaroslavl - a popular team with several ex-NHL stars on its roster -- crashed on Wednesday near Yaroslavl, 300 kilometres (185 miles) northeast of Moscow.

A mournful Medvedev said on a visit to the crash site in the rundown sleepy village of Tunoshna that Russia could not continue suffering from a string of apparently avoidable disasters and may have to switch to foreign-made planes.

“This is a shock for the entire country,” said Medvedev after placing flowers at the bank of the Tunoshonka river, the wreckage of the plane lying in the water nearby.

“I've given an order to the Investigative Committee and the government to conduct a thorough investigation,” Medvedev, wearing a funereal black suit, told officials in a quiet but firm voice at the site.

By the time Medvedev arrived to make his speech after travelling to the crash site, the venue had turned into a shrine for the local team, with thousands of fans placing heaps of roses and team scarves at its walls.

The crash's two survivors - player Alexander Galimov and crew member Alexander Sizov - remained in grave condition and were transferred for futher treatment to Moscow later Thursday.—AFP