A Russian Tu-154 passenger jet is preparing to make an emergency landing in the western Siberian city of Yekaterinburg due to technical problems in one of its engines, an airport spokesman said. The plane departed Yekaterinburg at 4:15 p.m. local time (10:15 GMT) on Saturday for the southern city of Minarlnye Vody. There are so far no reports of how many passengers and crew are on board the aircraft. Yekaterinburg\'s Koltsovo Airport has been put on alert.