16 January 2017

Kyrgyzstan: Cargo plane crash kills 37, destroys village

A Kyrgyz firefighter inspects a plane crash site outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. A Turkish Boeing 747 cargo plane crashed just outside the Manas airport Monday morning killing people in the residential area adjacent to the Manas airport as well as those on the plane.
A Turkish cargo plane crashed Monday in a residential area just outside the main airport in Kyrgyzstan, destroying half of a village and killing at least 37 people in the plane and on the ground, the Emergency Situations Ministry said.
The Boeing 747 crashed at 7:40 a.m. local time while approaching Manas airport, south of the capital, Bishkek, in this Central Asian nation.

Footage from the scene showed the plane's nose stuck inside a brick house and large chunks of debris scattered around. A dozen body bags were laid out in the yard of one home. A car parked nearby was mangled in the crash, and a refrigerator lay open.
The bodies of 15 victims, including five children, all of them Kyrgyz citizens, had been identified by Monday evening, the Kyrgyz government said on its website.
Another 15 people, including six children, were hospitalized in the disaster, according to the health ministry.
Kyrgyz Emergency Situations Minister Kubatbek Boronov said 23 out of the 43 houses in the village had been destroyed. Several dozen homes were near the fence surrounding the runway.
The plane, which had departed from Hong Kong, belonged to the Istanbul-based cargo company ACT Airlines, which said the dead included the plane's four Turkish crew members: two pilots, a freight expert and a flight technician.
Remains of a crashed Turkish Boeing 747 cargo plane are at a residential area outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. The cargo plane crashed Monday morning, killing people in the residential area adjacent to the Manas airport as well as those on the plane.
The cause of the crash was not immediately clear. Emergency Situations Minister Boronov told reporters that it was foggy at Manas when the plane came down but weather conditions were not critical.
One of the plane's two flight recorders was recovered at the scene, according to the Kyrgyz prime minister's office.
"I woke up because of a bright red light outside," resident Baktygul Kurbatova, who was slightly injured, told local television. "I couldn't understand what was happening. It turns out the ceiling and the walls were crashing on us. I was so scared but I managed to cover my son's face with my hands so debris would not fall on him."
The Manas airport has been considerably expanded since the United States began to operate a military installation there, using it primarily for its military operations in Afghanistan. The U.S. handed the base over to the Kyrgyz military in 2014.
ACT Airlines said on Monday that the crash wasn't the result of "technical reasons or factors linked to the freight" on the plane. It did not specify the plane's cargo.
The tail of a crashed Turkish Boeing 747 cargo plane lies at a residential area outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. The cargo plane crashed Monday morning, killing people in the residential area adjacent to the Manas airport as well as those on the plane.
It said the plane's records book had no record of any technical faults and said that the plane had not encountered any mishaps during its journey or as it proceeded to land at Bishkek.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev on Monday to express his condolences and convey his sadness at the loss of lives in the disaster.
Turkey's transportation ministry also sent two experts from its accident investigation board to Bishkek to assist Kyrgyz authorities. 
(AP)              
In this image made from video, people watch at a plane crash site outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. A Turkish Boeing 747 cargo plane crashed just outside the Manas airport Monday morning, killing people in the residential area adjacent to the Manas airport as well as those on the plane.
In this image made from video, people watch at a plane crash site outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. A Turkish Boeing 747 cargo plane crashed just outside the Manas airport Monday morning, killing people in the residential area adjacent to the Manas airport as well as those on the plane.                     
In this image made from video, rescuers and people watch at a plane crash site outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. A Turkish Boeing 747 cargo plane crashed just outside the Manas airport Monday morning, killing people in the residential area adjacent to the Manas airport as well as those on the plane.
In this image made from video, rescuers and people watch at a plane crash site outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. A Turkish Boeing 747 cargo plane crashed just outside the Manas airport Monday morning, killing people in the residential area adjacent to the Manas airport as well as those on the plane.                                
In this image made from video, rescuers inspect a plane crash site outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. A Turkish Boeing 747 cargo plane crashed just outside the Manas airport Monday morning, killing people in the residential area adjacent to the Manas airport as well as those on the plane.
In this image made from video, rescuers inspect a plane crash site outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. A Turkish Boeing 747 cargo plane crashed just outside the Manas airport Monday morning, killing people in the residential area adjacent to the Manas airport as well as those on the plane.                                        
Firefighters work among remains of a crashed Turkish Boeing 747 cargo plane at a residential area outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. The cargo plane crashed Monday morning, killing people in the residential area adjacent to the Manas airport as well as those on the plane.
Firefighters work among remains of a crashed Turkish Boeing 747 cargo plane at a residential area outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. The cargo plane crashed Monday morning, killing people in the residential area adjacent to the Manas airport as well as those on the plane.
Kyrgyz Emergency Ministry officials inspect a part of the cockpit of a crashed Turkish Boeing 747 cargo plane at a residential area outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. The cargo plane crashed Monday morning, killing people in the residential area adjacent to the Manas airport as well as those on the plane.
Kyrgyz Emergency Ministry officials inspect a part of the cockpit of a crashed Turkish Boeing 747 cargo plane at a residential area outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. The cargo plane crashed Monday morning, killing people in the residential area adjacent to the Manas airport as well as those on the plane.                          
The tail of a crashed Turkish Boeing 747 cargo plane lies at a residential area outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. The cargo plane crashed Monday morning, killing people in the residential area adjacent to the Manas airport as well as those on the plane.
The tail of a crashed Turkish Boeing 747 cargo plane lies at a residential area outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. The cargo plane crashed Monday morning, killing people in the residential area adjacent to the Manas airport as well as those on the plane.                  
An undercarriage of a crashed Turkish Boeing 747 cargo plane lies at a residential area outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. The cargo plane crashed Monday morning, killing people in the residential area adjacent to the Manas airport as well as those on the plane.
An undercarriage of a crashed Turkish Boeing 747 cargo plane lies at a residential area outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. The cargo plane crashed Monday morning, killing people in the residential area adjacent to the Manas airport as well as those on the plane.    
A piece of an engine of a crashed Turkish Boeing 747 cargo plane lies at a residential area outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. The cargo plane crashed Monday morning, killing people in the residential area adjacent to the Manas airport as well as those on the plane.
A piece of an engine of a crashed Turkish Boeing 747 cargo plane lies at a residential area outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. The cargo plane crashed Monday morning, killing people in the residential area adjacent to the Manas airport as well as those on the plane. 
Kyrgyz Emergency Ministry officials work among remains of a crashed Turkish Boeing 747 cargo plane at a residential area outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. The cargo plane crashed Monday morning, killing people in the residential area adjacent to the Manas airport as well as those on the plane.
Kyrgyz Emergency Ministry officials work among remains of a crashed Turkish Boeing 747 cargo plane at a residential area outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. The cargo plane crashed Monday morning, killing people in the residential area adjacent to the Manas airport as well as those on the plane.                    
Kyrgyz Emergency Ministry officials and firefighters work among remains of a crashed Turkish Boeing 747 cargo plane at a residential area outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. The cargo plane crashed Monday morning, killing people in the residential area adjacent to the Manas airport as well as those on the plane.
Kyrgyz Emergency Ministry officials and firefighters work among remains of a crashed Turkish Boeing 747 cargo plane at a residential area outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. The cargo plane crashed Monday morning, killing people in the residential area adjacent to the Manas airport as well as those on the plane.                  
Kyrgyz soldiers carry a sack with the body of a victim at a crash site of a Turkish Boeing 747 cargo plane outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. The cargo plane crashed Monday morning, killing people in the residential area adjacent to the Manas airport as well as those on the plane.
Kyrgyz soldiers carry a sack with the body of a victim at a crash site of a Turkish Boeing 747 cargo plane outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. The cargo plane crashed Monday morning, killing people in the residential area adjacent to the Manas airport as well as those on the plane.                                  
Kyrgyz soldiers carry a sack with the body of a victim at after a Turkish Boeing 747 cargo plane crashed at a residential area outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. The cargo plane crashed Monday morning, killing people in the residential area adjacent to the Manas airport as well as those on the plane.
Kyrgyz soldiers carry a sack with the body of a victim at after a Turkish Boeing 747 cargo plane crashed at a residential area outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. The cargo plane crashed Monday morning, killing people in the residential area adjacent to the Manas airport as well as those on the plane.                            
Kyrgyz soldiers with a sniffer dog search among remains of a crashed Turkish Boeing 747 cargo plane at a residential area outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. The cargo plane crashed Monday morning, killing people in the residential area adjacent to the Manas airport as well as those on the plane.
Kyrgyz soldiers with a sniffer dog search among remains of a crashed Turkish Boeing 747 cargo plane at a residential area outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. The cargo plane crashed Monday morning, killing people in the residential area adjacent to the Manas airport as well as those on the plane.                          
Kyrgyz firefighters work among remains of a crashed Turkish Boeing 747 cargo plane at a residential area outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. The cargo plane crashed Monday morning, killing people in the residential area adjacent to the Manas airport as well as those on the plane.
Kyrgyz firefighters work among remains of a crashed Turkish Boeing 747 cargo plane at a residential area outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. The cargo plane crashed Monday morning, killing people in the residential area adjacent to the Manas airport as well as those on the plane.
Kyrgyz Emergency Ministry officials work among remains of a crashed Turkish Boeing 747 cargo plane at a residential area outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. The cargo plane crashed Monday morning, killing people in the residential area adjacent to the Manas airport as well as those on the plane.
Kyrgyz Emergency Ministry officials work among remains of a crashed Turkish Boeing 747 cargo plane at a residential area outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. The cargo plane crashed Monday morning, killing people in the residential area adjacent to the Manas airport as well as those on the plane.                                      
Kyrgyz Emergency Ministry officials work among remains of a crashed Turkish Boeing 747 cargo plane at a residential area outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. The cargo plane crashed Monday morning, killing people in the residential area adjacent to the Manas airport as well as those on the plane.
Kyrgyz Emergency Ministry officials work among remains of a crashed Turkish Boeing 747 cargo plane at a residential area outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. The cargo plane crashed Monday morning, killing people in the residential area adjacent to the Manas airport as well as those on the plane.                     
Relatives of victims of a crashed plane watch as Kyrgyz Emergency Ministry officials work among remains of the Turkish Boeing 747 cargo plane at a residential area outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. The cargo plane crashed Monday morning, killing people in the residential area adjacent to the Manas airport as well as those on the plane.
Relatives of victims of a crashed plane watch as Kyrgyz Emergency Ministry officials work among remains of the Turkish Boeing 747 cargo plane at a residential area outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. The cargo plane crashed Monday morning, killing people in the residential area adjacent to the Manas airport as well as those on the plane.                    
Kyrgyz Emergency Ministry officials work among remains of a crashed Turkish Boeing 747 cargo plane at a residential area outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. The cargo plane crashed Monday morning, killing people in the residential area adjacent to the Manas airport as well as those on the plane.
Kyrgyz Emergency Ministry officials work among remains of a crashed Turkish Boeing 747 cargo plane at a residential area outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. The cargo plane crashed Monday morning, killing people in the residential area adjacent to the Manas airport as well as those on the plane.                        
Kyrgyz firefighters work among remains of a crashed Turkish Boeing 747 cargo plane at a residential area outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. The cargo plane crashed Monday morning, killing people in the residential area adjacent to the Manas airport as well as those on the plane.
Kyrgyz firefighters work among remains of a crashed Turkish Boeing 747 cargo plane at a residential area outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. The cargo plane crashed Monday morning, killing people in the residential area adjacent to the Manas airport as well as those on the plane. 
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