71 killed as Kyrgyztan plane crashes on takeoff

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.

The Boeing-737, with 83 passengers and a seven-man crew, was en route to Iran when it went down near Bishkek’s Manas airport.

A spokeswoman for the Health Ministry, Yelena Bayalinova, told AFP: “There are currently 15 injured at Bishkek hospital, including two who are in intensive care.”