A Turkish cargo jet has crashed near Kyrgyzstan's Manas airport, killing at least 37 people as it tried to land in dense fog.
Most of those killed on Monday were residents of a village that was struck by the Boeing 747 as it attempted its landing about 7:30am on Monday (local time).
According to the airport administration, the plane was supposed to make a stopover at Manas, near the capital city Bishkek, on its way from Hong Kong to Istanbul.
The doomed plane ploughed for a few hundred metres through the village, shattering into pieces and damaging buildings.
Initial estimates put the death toll at 37.
Kyrgyz officials initially identified the Boeing 747-400 as belonging to Turkish Airlines, but Turkish cargo operator ACT Airlines said the jet was theirs.
"Our TC-MCL signed plane, flying on January 16 from Hong Kong to Bishkek, crashed on landing at Bishkek at the end of the runway for an unknown reason," ACT Airlines said in an emailed statement.
"More information will be disclosed concerning our four-person team when we get clear information."
Reuters
