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Danny Lee

Naomi Ng

Pilot error appeared to have caused the crash of a cargo plane in Kyrgyzstan that departed Hong Kong International Airport, killing at least 32 people, local officials said.
The Boeing 747 freighter jumbo jet slammed into a residential neighbourhood – killing many people on the ground – near the country’s main airport in the capital Bishkek. Flight TK6491 attempted to land on Monday morning, with a temperature of minus 11 degrees Celsius outside and the airport immersed in thick fog.
Hong Kong’s Cathay Dragon plans HK$20b aircraft replacement programme
The country’s deputy prime minister said preliminary tests suggested pilot error caused the accident, but said terrorism could not be ruled out.
“Now we cannot say who is guilty of the accident. According to preliminary estimates of experts, it was pilot error,” Mukhammetkaly Abulgaziyev said, according to local news agency 24.kg.
“Everything will be known after the investigation,” he said, adding that he could not rule out whether the plane had been overloaded.

At least four pilots – reportedly all Turkish nationals – were on board and died in the crash. The rest of those killed were on the ground when the plane crashed. The crew had flown to the airport before and was familiar with the weather conditions, officials said.
Prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation, citing possible safety violations.
The country’s health minister Talantbek Batyraliev told local media that in total 32 people had died including 12 minors, and several more were in hospital.

Bishkek, Kirguistán.- Cae jumbo 747 de MyCargo cuando iba a aterrizar. @capiurtecho pic.twitter.com/wMBWONUzuA
— Conrado Aviación (@Conradoaviacion) January 16, 2017

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The aircraft was operated by ACT Airlines, also known as myCargo Airlines, on behalf of Turkish Airlines. In 2011, the Chinese conglomerate HNA Group bought a 49 per cent stake in the cargo operator.
The flight took off from Hong Kong for Bishkek at 3.12am on Monday and crashed at 7.31am local time. It had been scheduled to continue to Istanbul.

Parts of the plane were strewn across a radius of 1km, with many houses damaged or demolished.
On Monday evening, officials were hunting for the aircraft’s “black box” flight data and voice recorders.
A Kyrgyz news agency reported that a local resident had written on Facebook that the plane’s impact had “blown away” many structures.

“Many homes simply burned,” she wrote. “People were sleeping and didn’t have any idea.”
The plane’s manufacturer Boeing said it was standing by to help investigators, and extended “its deepest condolences to the families of those who perished.”
In a statement on Monday, ACT Airlines said the cause of the accident was “unknown at this time” and that they would provide further details as they became available.





Bishkek, Kirguistán.- Cae jumbo 747 de MyCargo cuando iba a aterrizar. @capiurtecho pic.twitter.com/wMBWONUzuA
— Conrado Aviación (@Conradoaviacion) January 16, 2017


<![CDATA[// ><!]]>

Pilot error initially suspected in Kyrgyzstan crash of cargo plane which departed from Hong Kong

The Boeing 747 was said to have crashed in bad weather during its landing approach. Photo: Reuters

(170116) -- BISHKEK, Jan. 16, 2017 (Xinhua) -- Photo provided by Chui oblast government shows the Turkish cargo plane crash site near Kyrgyzstan's International Manas Airport outside Bishkek, Jan. 16, 2017. At least 32 people were killed in a Turkish cargo plane crash in Kyrgyzstan early Monday. (Xinhua/Chui oblast government) (djj)

== IMAGE CAPTURED FROM http://www.sozcu.com.tr/ == Turkish cargo plane fell in Bishkek During the landing on Bishkek, TC-MCL registered Boeing 747-400 type cargo plane belonging to Turkish ACT Airlines, which disappeared from the radar, was reported to have fallen. 05:58 January 16, 2017 world Turkish cargo plane fell in Bishkek Kyrgyz Aeronautical Authority gave the information aircraft landing at 04:45 with the time of Turkey fell. Photo: http://www.sozcu.com.tr/

Hong Kong’s Cathay Dragon plans HK$20b aircraft replacement programme

Cathay Dragon plans to replace its ageing fleet over the coming years. Photo: Dennis Ho.

Cathay Pacific unveil the new logo of Cathay Dragon(top). The iconic red dragon logo of the three-decade-old Dragonair, Hong Kong’s first local airline, will make way for Cathay Pacific Airways’ signature brushwing after the rebranding plan. 28JAN16 SCMP/ Dickson Lee

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Hong Kong

Asia

Disaster killed four pilots and at least 28 people on the ground


A cargo plane that departed from Hong Kong International Airport has crashed near the capital of Kyrgyzstan, killing at least 32 people, according to the country’s health minister.


Pilot error initially suspected in Kyrgyzstan crash of cargo plane which departed from Hong Kong

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Disaster killed four pilots and at least 28 people on the ground

Disaster killed four pilots and at least 28 people on the ground