24/08/08 Kyrgyz 737-200 crash

"As a result of colliding with the ground the aircraft was destroyed,
and burned," he adds. Twenty-five of those on board survived the
accident, with a preliminary manifest indicating that these include the
co-pilot. Twenty-two survivors remain in hospital, says Sulaymanov.

Images from the scene show the aircraft, operating as flight 6895, came
down in an open area of land but little remains except the empennage,
which was badly damaged by fire. The emergency situations ministry says
rescue operations ended at 06:30 today.

Itek Air has informed the ministry that the aircraft was "technically
sound" and had recently passed an examination clearing it for flight.

Kyrgyzstan's Government has identified the airframe as a 28-year old 737
registered EX-009. It has ordered that a commission be set up to
establish the cause of the accident, to report initial findings in 10 days.

Russia's Interstate Aviation Committee (MAK), which assists with air
accident investigation in former Soviet states, says it is to aid the
inquiry and will send a representative to Bishkek today.

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