Foreign Experts to Help Investigation of Boeing Crash Near Bishkek

BISHKEK. Aug 28 (Interfax) – Foreign experts will assist the investigation into the recent crash of Boeing passenger aircraft near Bishkek, Deputy Director of the Kyrgyz Civil Aviation Department Bakyt Junushaliyev told Interfax on Thursday.

“Foreign experts will ensure impartiality in the investigation of the crash of the Boeing 737 en route from Bishkek to Tehran on August 24,” he said.

Representatives of the Interstate Aviation Committee and Iranian aviation authorities have been working in Bishkek since the beginning of the week, Junushaliyev said. He explained the Iranian participation in the inquiry by the fact that Iran’s Asserman Air had chartered the jetliner from the Kyrgyz airline Itek Air.

In addition, U.S. investigators in transportation accidents and Boeing representatives will come to Bishkek, he said.

The Boeing 737 of the Kyrgyz private airline Itek Air caught fire after an emergency landing near the Kyrgyz capital city. It was carrying 90 people onboard, including 83 passengers. According to the preliminary information, the crash killed 65, and 25 people survived.

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