Cargo Plane Crashes in Kyrgyzstan, Killing 33
A cargo plane operated by ACT airlines crashed near the capital of Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan, killing 33 people, authorities announced on Monday.
The accident took place at about 7:30 a.m. in the village of Dacha Su near Manas International Airport. The victims include four people on the plane and dozens of residents of the village.
Authorities believe pilot error is to blame.
Several injured, including at least three children, were reportedly transferred to a local hospital, according to the Kyrgyz Ministry of Emergency Situations.
The Boeing 747 cargo plane destroyed 15 homes when it crashed.
Boeing released a statement expressing condolences and saying "A Boeing technical team stands ready to provide assistance at the request and under the direction of government investigating authorities."
Turkish Airlines tweeted out its condolences after the incident.
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Status:
| Preliminary | |
| Date: | Monday 16 January 2017 |
| Time: | 07:19 |
| Type: |  Boeing 747-412F |
| Operating for: | THY Turkish Airlines |
| Leased from: | MyCargo Airlines (ACT Airlines) |
| Registration: | TC-MCL |
| C/n / msn: | 32897/1322 |
| First flight: | 2003-01-13 (14 years ) |
| Engines: | 4 Pratt & Whitney PW4056 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4 |
| Collision casualties: | Fatalities: 28 |
| Airplane damage: | Destroyed |
| Airplane fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | 1 km (0.6 mls) W of Bishkek-Manas International Airport (FRU) ( Kyrgyzstan) |
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | Cargo |
| Departure airport: | Hong Kong-Chek Lap Kok International Airport (HKG/VHHH), Hong Kong |
| Bishkek-Manas International Airport (FRU/UCFM), Kyrgyzstan | |
| Flightnumber: | TK6491 |
A THY Turkish Airlines Boeing 747-412F cargo plane was destroyed after impacting terrain near Bishkek-Manas International Airport (FRU). Local sources say all four crew members and 28 persons on the ground were killed.
Flight TK6491 departed Hong Kong on a cargo service to Istanbul. An en route refueling stop was planned at Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Flight tracking website Flightradar24 shows the aircraft on approach to Bishkek's runway 26 at the time of the accident. It crashed past the end of the runway in an area with houses.
Weather at the time of the accident was poor with a visibility of 150 m and a Runway Visual Range reported for runway 26 of 550 m in freezing fog conditions. Vertical visibility was 100 feet. Temperature was -9°C, Dew point -10°C.
Sources:
» eng.24.kg