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Kazakh Authorities Look for Cause of AirlinerCrash

RFE/RL's Kazakh Service

   ALMATY, KAZAKHSTAN - A top Kazakh official said authorities were
   looking at a possible "technical malfunction" or pilot error in the
   crash of a BekAir planethat killed 12 of the 98 passengers and crew
   aboard early Friday.
   RomanSklyar, a deputy prime minister, said a special government
   commission was being sent to the site to investigate the accident,
   which occurred as the Fokker 100 plane attempted to take off from the
   Almaty airporton a flightto the capital, Nur-Sultan.
   Sklyarcautioned, however, the investigation was in the early stages and
   no cause had yet been pinpointed.
   He said eight people died at the scene, including the pilot, while two
   died at the airport and two others at the hospital.
   Sklyaradded that 49 people were hospitalized, 18 in serious condition.
   "Either this is pilot error or there were technical
   reasons,"SklyarsaidFridayat a press conference in Almaty.
   "The aircraft split into two parts. Most of the passengers who died
   were in the front part."
   KazakhstanonSaturday observed a day of mourning to honor the victims of
   the crash.
   In Nur-Sultan, flags were at half-staff for the day of mourning,while
   officialsurgently appealedfor blood donations to help the dozens of
   injured survivors.
   

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