PLANE CRASH - Itek Air Boeing 737 crash - Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, 24th August 2008

An Iran-bound Boeing 737 with 90 people on board crashed Sunday just outside the airport in Kyrgyzstan's capital, Bishkek, killing dozens of passengers, a government official said.


The Boeing 737 crashed near the Bishkek airport in Kyrgyzstan on Sunday.

The six crew members members survived the crash, Ramis Satybekov, an official from Kyrgyzstan's Emergency Situations Ministry. While he didn't have exact figures, he said roughly 60 passengers were killed and more than 20 people injured were taken to local hospitals, he said.

Among the passengers was an Iranian airline representative, but his status was unknown, Satybekov said. Most of the 83 passengers were Iranian or Kyrgyz nationals.

The crash happened near the U.S. military's Manas Air Base, which is helping with the emergency response.

Flight IRC6895 took off at 8:30 p.m. but turned around a few minutes later after experiencing "technical difficulties," a spokeswoman at Manas International Airport. The crash happened minutes later, said the spokeswoman, who would not give her name.

The Aseman Airlines flight -- operated by Kyrgyzstan-based Itek Air -- was bound for Tehran, Iran.

All Kyrgyz airlines -- including Itek Air -- have been banned from flying to European Union countries for failing to meet safety standards, according to an EU list published July 24.

U.S. Air Force Maj. Damian Pickart said Kyrgyz authorities asked Manas Air Base for support shortly after the Aseman jet crashed about six miles off the runway.

"The 376th Air Expeditionary Wing provided two large fire trucks, an ambulance and nearly two dozen medical and fire and crash support personnel to the scene of the accident," according to a military news release.

"Medical personnel have also been requested to provide support at the Manas International Airport Terminal, which is adjacent to the base."

Manas is a key support base for the U.S.-led military operation in Afghanistan.

Video: CNN
Pictures: CNN

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[Nneka1963]

Hi my Dear Captian Jojo, thanx once again for your excellent reporting! I heard very little about this crash on the news here in London. The reporting was nothing like the Madrid Aircrash of last week which makes me wonder how the world/Media value different peoples lives in different countries :o(

Lot's of Love, hugs & kisses, Deine Nnek@

[Jojoairbus]

Thank you... :-)

[ansettaddict123]

its 7-3-7!!! not 7-37... lol thanx for posting this, its always good to know whats happening in the world:)

[Jojoairbus]

LMAO! ;D

[Dilya22ka]

I still cannot believe that it happened with my first love ( MANAS, KYRGYZSTAN), we did not found him alive. Thank you so much for the good report, you found appropriate words for this....thanks...............

[Sp33dyD3m0n]

I love how the whole world criticizes America yet here is proof of our good nature. We weren't asked for help, but were more than happy to assist. Still, what a tragic story. What was the cause?

[yoyoyoyoshua]

@ansettaddict123 it's both 7-3-7 and 7-37

[rusdigital]

америкосовский как"ка ненравится?

[Titoscudd]

@jcmasbac

Type this in YouTube's search text box:

From 9/11/2001: Flight 93 - missing from Pennsylvania!

And tell me what you think?

[Titoscudd]

@jcmasbac

What do you mean, what do I mean? Have you not seen pictures of the crash site in Pennsylvania on 9/11/2001? Did you see anything closely resembling this crash site? Did you see any corpses, luggage, wreckage resembling a Boeing 747 i.e. strewn seats, etc? Go and take a look at those pictures of the crash site in Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon and compare it with this one.

[jcmasbac]

What do you mean?

[tamad12]

Rest in peace.

That is good that the Kyrgyz flights have been banned to come to Eaurope and they must be banned to fly to anywhere until they learn some flight security managemnet.

[tamad12]

We surely do. Thank you very much for your human support.