At least 28 killed as cargo plane crashes in Kyrgyzstan, death toll could rise

At least 28 people, six of them children, have been killed after a cargo plane belonging to Turkish Airlines crashed into a residential neighborhood near Kyrgyzstan's capital, Bishkek, according to the local Health Ministry.

Among those killed are three crew members, RIA Novosti news agency reported.

One of the crew members survived the crash, the local Emergencies Ministry said, as cited by TASS.

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The aircraft was operating the flight route TK6491 from Hong Kong to Bishkek, and would have flown on to Istanbul.

Kyrgyzstan's Emergencies Ministry said the plane crashed in a residential neighborhood outside the capital, Bishkek.

It happened just 1.5-2 kilometers from the airport runway, the Kyrgyz Transport Ministry said, as cited by Interfax.

Fifteen houses have been destroyed in the crash, Kyrgyzstan's government said, as cited by Interfax.

Firefighters are at the scene, the ministry added, as cited by TASS.

All flights to and from Kyrgyzstan’s Manas airport have been suspended until further notice, RIA Novosti reported, citing local sources.

Kyrgyz PM Sooronbay Jeenbekov has arrived at the crash site, the government's press service told RIA Novosti.