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2 Bodies Found at Crash of Military Tanker 2 Bodies Found at Crash of Military Tanker
(35 minutes later)
MOSCOW — Authorities said Saturday that two bodies had been found in the wreckage of an American tanker airplane that crashed soon after taking off from the Manas airport in the Central Asian state of Kyrgyzstan. MOSCOW — The authorities said on Saturday that two bodies had been found in the wreckage of an American tanker airplane that crashed soon after taking off from the Manas airport in the Central Asian state of Kyrgyzstan.
Kyrgyz firefighters found the bodies after putting out a fire at the crash site, Nurzada Toktogulova, a government spokeswoman, said in a telephone interview.Kyrgyz firefighters found the bodies after putting out a fire at the crash site, Nurzada Toktogulova, a government spokeswoman, said in a telephone interview.
The airplane, a KC-135 Stratotanker that was used for midair refueling over Afghanistan, typically carries a crew of three, though it was not clear how many were on board Friday. The plane crashed in a hilly area near the town of Kara-Balta a few minutes after takeoff. The Air Force unit based at Manas, the 376th Expeditionary Wing, released a statement saying that the status of the crew was unknown and that the cause of the crash was under investigation. It did not say how many people had been on board and an American military spokesman declined to clarify. The plane, a KC-135 Stratotanker that was used for midair refueling over Afghanistan, typically carries a crew of three, though it was not clear how many were onboard Friday. The plane crashed in a hilly area near the town of Kara-Balta a few minutes after takeoff. The Air Force unit based at Manas, the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing, released a statement saying that the status of the crew was unknown and that the cause of the crash was under investigation. It did not say how many people had been onboard and an American military spokesman declined to clarify.
AKI Press cited witnesses as saying that the airplane broke into three parts in the air. They reported hearing an explosion.AKI Press cited witnesses as saying that the airplane broke into three parts in the air. They reported hearing an explosion.
Reports published in Kyrgyz media on Friday that an open parachute had been found at the site, though with nobody attached to it, were not confirmed by the government emergency officials at the site, Ms. Toktogulova said.Reports published in Kyrgyz media on Friday that an open parachute had been found at the site, though with nobody attached to it, were not confirmed by the government emergency officials at the site, Ms. Toktogulova said.
The AKI news agency cited a local official, Daniyar Zhanykulov, a deputy head of a Kyrgyz political party, describing scattered, burning wreckage.The AKI news agency cited a local official, Daniyar Zhanykulov, a deputy head of a Kyrgyz political party, describing scattered, burning wreckage.
“It’s a horror, what’s happening,” Mr. Zhanykulov said, according to the report. “There are no signs of people. The prosecutor and police blocked off the area. And the rubble of the plane is burning. This is a mountain area, and fire trucks cannot work.”“It’s a horror, what’s happening,” Mr. Zhanykulov said, according to the report. “There are no signs of people. The prosecutor and police blocked off the area. And the rubble of the plane is burning. This is a mountain area, and fire trucks cannot work.”
A fleet of KC-135 tanker planes has been based at Manas airfield since 2001. The provincial airport is also used for civilian flights and as a way station for most troops coming to and from Afghanistan.A fleet of KC-135 tanker planes has been based at Manas airfield since 2001. The provincial airport is also used for civilian flights and as a way station for most troops coming to and from Afghanistan.
The American tanker fleet carries jet fuel to American fighter jets that fly over Afghanistan. The Pentagon buys the jet fuel through intermediaries from petroleum-rich former Soviet countries, including Russia and Kazakhstan.The American tanker fleet carries jet fuel to American fighter jets that fly over Afghanistan. The Pentagon buys the jet fuel through intermediaries from petroleum-rich former Soviet countries, including Russia and Kazakhstan.
The logistics of supplying the American troops in Afghanistan are a constant strain on resources and can be risky. Most troops are scheduled to be withdrawn from the country by 2014.The logistics of supplying the American troops in Afghanistan are a constant strain on resources and can be risky. Most troops are scheduled to be withdrawn from the country by 2014.
On Monday, seven people were killed when a civilian Boeing 747 cargo plane crashed soon after taking off from Bagram Air Base near Kabul. Military officials said that the cause was being investigated, but that there had been no enemy activity in the area at the time.On Monday, seven people were killed when a civilian Boeing 747 cargo plane crashed soon after taking off from Bagram Air Base near Kabul. Military officials said that the cause was being investigated, but that there had been no enemy activity in the area at the time.