A passenger plane has crashed - reportedly shortly after take-off - in Kyrgyzstan's capital, Bishkek.
A passenger plane has crashed - reportedly shortly after take-off - in Kyrgyzstan's capital, Bishkek.
Alexander Aksyonov from the civil aviation agency was quoted as saying there were casualties. One report says 25 people are known to have survived.
Alexander Aksyonov from the civil aviation agency was quoted as saying there were casualties. One report says 25 people are known to have survived.
Reports say the Itek Air Boeing 737 was on its way to Mashhad, in north-eastern Iran, with at least 83 people on board.
Reports say the Itek Air Boeing 737 was bound for Mashhad, in north-eastern Iran, with at least 83 people on board.
Officials from a nearby US base are reported to have sent a rescue team to the site of the accident.
"It took off and reported a technical problem and tried to return to the airport," an airport spokeswoman said.
Officials from a nearby US base said they were trying to help with the rescue effort.
"At the moment rescue teams, fire brigades and medics are rushing to the crash site," a spokeswoman for the US air base located in Manas, 30km (20 miles) from the capital Bishkek, told Russia's RIA news agency.
There was confusion over the number of people on board - with reports ranging from 83 to 123.
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Are you in the area? Did you witness the crash?
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