News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) A passenger plane crashed Sunday shortly after take-off from Kyrgyzstan's capital, Bishkek, killing 68 out of the 90 passengers and crew.  The 29-year-old Itek Air Boeing 737 bound for Tehran, Iran attempted to turn around 10 minutes after take-off, and crashed near the airport.

Ambulances and fire-fighting equipment from the nearby U.S. air base at Manas, 20 miles from Bishkek, were dispatched to help with the rescue effort.  Among the passengers were 52 Iranians, 24 Kyrgyz, 3 Kazakhs, 2 Canadians, 1 Chinese, 1 Turk, and seven crew members. At least 2 survived the crash.

Itek Air is one of several airlines which have been banned from flying in the European Union, due to concerns over safety standards.