At least 37 people were killed after an ACT Airlines cargo plane crashed in a residential area in the Kyrgyzstan Capital on Monday, reported Reuters. The incident took place when the Boeing 747 aircraft that had taken off from Hong Kong was trying to land at Manas airport in Bishkek. Contrary to earlier agency reports, the cargo flight did not belong to Turkish Airlines. ACT Airlines has said the cause of the crash is unknown.
The pilot was reportedly killed in the incident. The country’s Health Ministry said most of the victims of the crash were local people whose houses were around the accident site. Several children were reportedly killed after the aircraft crashed into their homes.
Vice Prime Minister Mukhammetkaliy Abulgaziev and other senior government officials have reached the site. The administration has yet to confirm the cause of the crash. Weather conditions could have played a role in the accident, reported BBC.
Corrections and clarifications: This story has been edited to reflect that it was an ACT Airlines, not Turkish Airlines, plane that crashed.
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