Interfax: Jet with 83 passengers crashes in Kyrgzstan; casualties feared

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Russian news agencies report that a Boeing passenger jet has crashed while taking off in Kyrgyzstan's capital, Bishkek. The Interfax news agency cited an unidentified source as saying there are casualties and identified the plane as a Boeing-737. A US official said 83 people were aboard the plane. An airport official said the crash occurred after the crew reported a technical problem on board about 10 minutes into the flight to Teheran, Iran, and said they were returning to the airport. Kyrgyz Interior Minister Maldomusa Kongatiyev told the AP there were seven crew members on board in addition to the 83 passengers. He said the plane went down 10 kilometers from the airport. Interfax said the Itek-Air flight was headed to Iran.