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| Kazakhstan plane crash: Bek Air plane comes down near Almaty airport | Kazakhstan plane crash: Bek Air plane comes down near Almaty airport |
| (6 days later) | |
| A passenger jet has crashed in Kazakhstan, killing at least 12 people but leaving dozens of survivors. | A passenger jet has crashed in Kazakhstan, killing at least 12 people but leaving dozens of survivors. |
| The Bek Air plane was flying from Almaty - Kazakhstan's largest city - to the capital Nur-Sultan when it smashed into a building just after take-off. | The Bek Air plane was flying from Almaty - Kazakhstan's largest city - to the capital Nur-Sultan when it smashed into a building just after take-off. |
| The Fokker 100 aircraft had 93 passengers and five crew members on board. Survivors described walking from the wreckage into the dark and snow. | The Fokker 100 aircraft had 93 passengers and five crew members on board. Survivors described walking from the wreckage into the dark and snow. |
| Dozens are being treated in hospital. The cause of the crash is unclear. | Dozens are being treated in hospital. The cause of the crash is unclear. |
| A Reuters news agency reporter close to the scene said there was heavy fog at the time. | A Reuters news agency reporter close to the scene said there was heavy fog at the time. |
| The interior ministry initially said 15 people had been killed, but it later revised the number of victims down to 12. | The interior ministry initially said 15 people had been killed, but it later revised the number of victims down to 12. |
| Kazakhstan's aviation committee has suspended all Bek Air flights as well as those involving Fokker 100 aircraft pending the results of the investigation. | Kazakhstan's aviation committee has suspended all Bek Air flights as well as those involving Fokker 100 aircraft pending the results of the investigation. |
| What's known about the crash? | What's known about the crash? |
| The Flightradar24 information website said the flight departed at 07:21 (01:21 GMT), and "the last signal was received in that same minute". | The Flightradar24 information website said the flight departed at 07:21 (01:21 GMT), and "the last signal was received in that same minute". |
| The airport said the plane lost height at 07:22 before striking a concrete barrier and crashing into a two-storey building. There was no fire upon impact. | The airport said the plane lost height at 07:22 before striking a concrete barrier and crashing into a two-storey building. There was no fire upon impact. |
| Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar said the plane's tail had scraped the runway twice during take-off, leaving marks. | Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar said the plane's tail had scraped the runway twice during take-off, leaving marks. |
| One survivor, businessman Aslan Nazaraliyev, told the BBC that the plane had begun vibrating violently. People screamed and the aircraft smashed into the ground. | One survivor, businessman Aslan Nazaraliyev, told the BBC that the plane had begun vibrating violently. People screamed and the aircraft smashed into the ground. |
| He said part of the plane was crushed like "an aluminium can". He and others managed to get out and helped fellow passengers to safety. | He said part of the plane was crushed like "an aluminium can". He and others managed to get out and helped fellow passengers to safety. |
| "It was ugly. It was dark. We were lighting with cell phone lights," Mr Nazaraliyev said. | "It was ugly. It was dark. We were lighting with cell phone lights," Mr Nazaraliyev said. |
| Another told news website Tengrinews she heard a "terrifying sound" before the plane started losing altitude. | Another told news website Tengrinews she heard a "terrifying sound" before the plane started losing altitude. |
| "The plane was flying at a tilt. Everything was like in a movie: screaming, shouting, people crying," she said. | "The plane was flying at a tilt. Everything was like in a movie: screaming, shouting, people crying," she said. |
| What of the victims? | What of the victims? |
| Mr Sklyar said that most of the passengers who died or suffered serious injuries were in the front part of the plane. | Mr Sklyar said that most of the passengers who died or suffered serious injuries were in the front part of the plane. |
| Eight people died at the scene, two while being treated at the airport and two in hospital, AFP news agency reports. | Eight people died at the scene, two while being treated at the airport and two in hospital, AFP news agency reports. |
| Some 67 people were injured in the accident, nine of them children, the health ministry said. Forty-nine were still in hospital on Friday evening, of whom eight people were said to be in a critical condition. | Some 67 people were injured in the accident, nine of them children, the health ministry said. Forty-nine were still in hospital on Friday evening, of whom eight people were said to be in a critical condition. |
| Most of those on board were Kazakh citizens although Chinese, Kyrgyz and Ukrainian nationals were reportedly among the injured. | Most of those on board were Kazakh citizens although Chinese, Kyrgyz and Ukrainian nationals were reportedly among the injured. |
| The captain has been confirmed as one of the fatalities. | The captain has been confirmed as one of the fatalities. |
| The editor of the Informburo.kz website said one of its journalists, 35-year-old Dana Kruglova, was killed while flying to see her parents for New Year. | The editor of the Informburo.kz website said one of its journalists, 35-year-old Dana Kruglova, was killed while flying to see her parents for New Year. |
| What's been the reaction? | What's been the reaction? |
| A special commission will be set up to determine the cause of the crash. | A special commission will be set up to determine the cause of the crash. |
| Kazakhstan's President Qasym-Jomart Toqayev has declared a day of national mourning on Friday. | Kazakhstan's President Qasym-Jomart Toqayev has declared a day of national mourning on Friday. |
| He expressed his "deep condolences" to relatives and said "all those responsible will be severely punished in accordance with the law". | He expressed his "deep condolences" to relatives and said "all those responsible will be severely punished in accordance with the law". |
| He also ordered an audit of all Kazakh airlines. | He also ordered an audit of all Kazakh airlines. |
| Bek Air also expressed its condolences and said it was doing everything it could to clarify what happened. | Bek Air also expressed its condolences and said it was doing everything it could to clarify what happened. |
| Almaty's airport said it was operating normally and the flight schedule was unaffected. | Almaty's airport said it was operating normally and the flight schedule was unaffected. |
| Nur-Sultan - a city formerly known as Astana - was renamed after former-President Nursultan Nazarbayev shortly after he stood down in March. | Nur-Sultan - a city formerly known as Astana - was renamed after former-President Nursultan Nazarbayev shortly after he stood down in March. |
| What are the odds of surviving a plane crash? | What are the odds of surviving a plane crash? |
| A survey of crashes in the US between 1983 and 2000 found that 95% of aircraft occupants survived accidents, including 55% in the most serious incidents. | A survey of crashes in the US between 1983 and 2000 found that 95% of aircraft occupants survived accidents, including 55% in the most serious incidents. |
| A study of crashes worldwide by the European Transport Safety Council has found that 90% are survivable. | A study of crashes worldwide by the European Transport Safety Council has found that 90% are survivable. |
| Flying remains the safest way to travel. Your chances of being in a crash in the first place are vanishingly small. | Flying remains the safest way to travel. Your chances of being in a crash in the first place are vanishingly small. |
| In 2018 - an average year in terms of aircraft accidents - 514 people died worldwide in crashes involving commercial flights, from a total of more than four billion passengers. | In 2018 - an average year in terms of aircraft accidents - 514 people died worldwide in crashes involving commercial flights, from a total of more than four billion passengers. |
| What is known about Bek Air? | What is known about Bek Air? |
| It was founded in 1999, initially targeting VIP flight operations, the company's website says. | It was founded in 1999, initially targeting VIP flight operations, the company's website says. |
| Nowadays, the company describes itself as Kazakhstan's first low-cost airline. | Nowadays, the company describes itself as Kazakhstan's first low-cost airline. |
| Its fleet is made up of seven Fokker 100 aircraft. The aircraft in this crash received its most recent flight certificate in May. | Its fleet is made up of seven Fokker 100 aircraft. The aircraft in this crash received its most recent flight certificate in May. |
| The Fokker 100 in detail | The Fokker 100 in detail |
| This is not the first serious plane crash in the city. | This is not the first serious plane crash in the city. |
| On 29 January 2013, a passenger plane travelling from the northern town of Kokshetau came down near Almaty, killing 20 people. | On 29 January 2013, a passenger plane travelling from the northern town of Kokshetau came down near Almaty, killing 20 people. |
| A month earlier, 27 people died when a military plane carrying senior Kazakh security officials crashed in the south of the country. | A month earlier, 27 people died when a military plane carrying senior Kazakh security officials crashed in the south of the country. |