Aircraft

Several passengers have reportedly survived the crash of a Boeing 737-200 following departure from Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, today.

The aircraft is said to belong to local carrier Itek Air but was apparently being operated for Iranian carrier Iran Aseman Airlines.

Kyrgyz and Russian news agencies are reporting that the aircraft was departing Bishkek's Manas International Airport as flight 6895 for the Iranian capital Tehran.

The aircraft is said to have been transporting 83 passengers and seven crew and to have come down at Dzhangi-Dzher, which lies around 10km northwest of Manas Airport.

Local reports, citing Kyrgyz Government officials, indicate more than 20 of those on board survived.

Few other details about the circumstances of the accident are known although, at the reported time of departure, about 20:30, weather conditions were good.

Bishkek-based Itek Air carried around 52,000 passengers last year. It serves cities such as Moscow, Osh and Urumqi.

All carriers in Kyrgyzstan are subject to a blanket ban on operations to the European Union.

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