A Turkish Airlines plane crashed into a village in Kyrgyzstan in the early hours of Monday after missing the runway at the country’s main international airport.

The Boeing 747 which was attempting to make a refuelling stop on its way from Hong Kong to Istanbul, crash-landed in heavy fog just outside Manas airport, south of the capital Bishkek, and ploughed through up to 60 buildings.

The impact of the crash killed 17 people on board and at least 15 living next to the airport –including 12 children and an entire family. Officials fear the death toll could rise.

There were reports this morning that looters had already descended on the scene with one man arrested for stealing two kettles from the wreckage, and hiding them under his coat.

Dramatic pictures show the wreckage of the plane among the ruins of the village. Local emergency services are still at the scene.

A Turkish Airlines cargo plane has crashed into a village killing 37 people after 'missing the runway' at Kyrgyzstan's main international airport
A Turkish Airlines cargo plane has crashed into a village killing 37 people after ‘missing the runway’ at Kyrgyzstan’s main international airport

 

The Boeing 747 crash-landed in heavy fog just outside Manas airport, south of the capital Bishkek and ploughed through 43 buildings
The Boeing 747 crash-landed in heavy fog just outside Manas airport, south of the capital Bishkek and ploughed through 43 buildings
A desperate search operation was underway this morning as pictures emerged of rescuers carrying bodies from the crash site
A desperate search operation was underway this morning as pictures emerged of rescuers carrying bodies from the crash site
When rescuers arrived, they found the nose of the giant cargo plane coming out of the side of a house in the village
When rescuers arrived, they found the nose of the giant cargo plane coming out of the side of a house in the village

 

 

Culled from the DailyMail