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.
There were reported to be at least 83 people on board. Unconfirmed reports said there were at least 25 survivors, but that many people may have died.
Reports say the Itek Air Boeing 737 was bound for Mashhad, in north-eastern Iran, with at least 83 people on board.
Reports say the Itek Air Boeing 737 took off bound for Mashhad, in north-eastern Iran, but then turned round.
"It took off and reported a technical problem and tried to return to the airport," an airport spokeswoman said.
"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.
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.
"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 Bishkek, told Russia's RIA news agency.
There was confusion over the number of people on board - with reports ranging from 83 to 123.
There was confusion over the number of people on board - with reports ranging from 83 to 123.
Yelena Bayalinova, spokeswoman for the Kyrgyz health ministry, told the Interfax news agency that many victims of the crash had suffered burns, and that some were in critical condition.
The plane reportedly belonged to Itek Air, a Kyrgyz company, but was operated by Iran Aseman Airlines.
Itek Air is on a list of airlines banned from EU airspace because of fears over safety standards.
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