IAC, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey to investigate plane crash near Bishkek
BISHKEK. Jan 16 (Interfax) - The plane crash near Bishkek Manas Airport will be investigated in accordance with Kyrgyzstan's aviation rules, a representative of the Kyrgyz Civil Aviation Agency (CAA) told Interfax on Monday.
"This plane crash will be investigated in accordance with Kyrgyzstan's aviation rules titled 'Investigation of Aviation Events and Incidents'," he said.
"The republic's Civil Aviation Agency will notify about the accident the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization), the IAC (Interstate Aviation Committee), the Turkish aviation authorities and the country, which designed the aircraft," he said.
"The CIS IAC is the designated investigative agency. An investigative commission is being formed to consist predominantly of experts from the CAA, the IAC and, possibility, representatives of the Turkish aviation authorities. Members of the operative staff which the Kyrgyz government formed this morning will render full support," he said.
"In addition, an ad hoc governmental commission has been formed to address this accident," the representative said.
A Boeing 747 cargo plane en route from Hong Kong to Istanbul via Bishkek crashed near Manas Airport at 7:17 a.m. local time on January 16, 2017. The approaching plane crashed 1.5 to 2 kilometers from the airport runway on residential buildings of a dacha neighborhood in the Sokuluk district of the Chui region in northern Kyrgyzstan.
The plane belonged to Istanbul-based ACT Airlines registered in Turkey. A Turkish citizen has a 51% stake in the company, and 49% belongs to China's HNA Group. The plane and its crew were chartered by Turkish Airlines for a cargo flight between Hong Kong, Bishkek and Istanbul.
According to Kyrgyzaeronavigatsiya General Director Ulukbek Rakhmanov, visibility was normal when the approaching plane was permitted to land.
