A passenger jet carrying 90 people, including a high school basketball team, crashed shortly after take-off near the Kyrgyz capital in Central Asia, killing at least 65.

A PASSENGER plane crashed shortly after takeoff from the Kyrgyzstan capital of Bishkek yesterday, claiming the lives of 71 people onboard, the health ministry said.

A passenger jet carrying 90 people, including a Kyrgyz high school basketball team, crashed shortly after takeoff today near the Kyrgyz capital, killing at least 65, government officials said.