The crash site of Bek Air's Folker 100. After losing altitude, the passenger plane crashed near a village. (Image via The New York Times)

Plane crashes in Kazakhstan, killing at least 14 people

On Friday, a passenger plane from Bek Air, bringing 93 passengers and five crews, crashed near the city of Almaty, Kazakhstan, shortly after taking off. Kazakhstan’s Civil Aviation Committee revealed that at least 14 people were killed by the crash.

The passenger plane, Fokker 100 type, was heading for the capital, Nur-Sultan, from Almaty on a pre-dawn flight. A survivor from the crash retold the experience as hearing a terrifying sound. Shortly, the plane lost altitude while taking off and broke through the concrete fence. Then, the crashed plane hit a small, two-story building.

Kazakhstan’s Interior Ministry revealed that details of the 93 passengers: 85 adults, five children, and three infants.

The plane crashed in Almarek village, located beyond the airport’s runway. The village has been cordoned off. The crashed passenger plane was split in two. Just beside the crash site, a house was nearly demolished by the impact. The scene was engulfed by a thick fog.

Previously, the death toll was seven. Currently, there were at least 14 people killed and 22 people hospitalized. About 60 people were injured, including children. Among the death toll, six children were included.

Bek Air has not given any comment regarding the crash. But, the cause of the crash remains unknown. The aviation committee immediately halted all flight of the aircraft type pending an investigation.

Kazakh President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, delivered his condolences through his official Twitter account while promising that those responsible for the crash will be dealt with severely. A special commission was formed to investigate the crash.

It was not the first plane crash in the region. In 2013, a passenger plan from Kokshetau crashed down also near Almaty, taking the lives of 20 people. Just a month earlier, a plane, carrying Kazakh security officials, crashed in South Kazakhstan killing 27 people.

Source: https://bbc.in/2SwZnAW