Kyrgyzstan recovers bodies from plane crash site

By Aliyev

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan's health minister said on Tuesday the remains of crew members killed in Monday’s air crash near Bishkek had been recovered.

Talantbek Batiraliyev told Anadolu Agency the bodies would be transferred to company officials when requested.

The ACT Airlines flight from Hong Kong to Istanbul via Bishkek crashed as it came in to land amid bad weather conditions at 7.31 a.m. local time (0131GMT) on Monday.

Thirty-seven people, including Capt. Ibrahim Gurcan , co-pilot Kazim Ondul, loading expert Melih and Flight Technician Ihsan Koca died in the crash.

ACT Airlines operates under the name myCARGO. Based in Istanbul, it flies eight Boeing B747 transport aircraft, according to the company. The firm is 49 percent-owned by China’s HNA Group with the remainder belonging to Turkish interests.

In a Monday statement, the company said it was “deeply saddened” by the incident. It said the crash was not due to technical reasons or overloading and added the real reason would be revealed to the public after an investigation was completed.

Kyrgyzstan’s health ministry said in a statement that 13 people remained hospitalized with injuries sustained in the crash.

The plane’s flight recorder was found on Monday but the Kyrgyz government did not say when its information would be shared.

The country is observing a day of mourning for the dead.

Turkish Airlines has issued a statement to clarify the aircraft was not operated or staffed by its personnel.