VZCZCXRO8693
RR RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHPW RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHEK #0874/01 2391045
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 261045Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY BISHKEK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1300
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI 0130
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2622
RUEHMT/AMCONSUL MONTREAL 0001
RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1002
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3015
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2400
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO BRUSSELS BE
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000874 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN 
DEPT PASS TO NTSB 
MONTREAL FOR ICAO OFFICER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAIR PGOV PREL KG
SUBJECT: INVESTIGATION OF FATAL KYRGYZ BOEING 737 CRASH 
BEGINS 
 
BISHKEK 00000874  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1.  (U) Summary:  On August 24, an Iranian Aseman Airlines 
flight crashed outside of Bishkek killing 65 of the 90 people 
on board.  The plane, a Boeing 737, was leased from a Kyrgyz 
company, Itek Air, and was operated by a Kyrgyz crew.  The 
majority of the passengers (and victims) were Kyrgyz and 
Iranian citizens, and no Americans were on board.  Responding 
to Kyrgyz government requests for assistance, Manas Air Base 
dispatched firefighting and medical personnel to the scene. 
The Kyrgyz government has established a special commission 
under the prime minister to oversee the investigation, and 
the Interstate Aviation Committee (MAK) will provide 
assistance.  The Embassy has relayed the U.S. offer to send a 
National Transportation Safety Board-led team, and we are 
awaiting a Kyrgyz response before advising that the NTSB team 
begin its journey to Bishkek.  End summary. 
 
Accident Details 
---------------- 
 
¶2.  (U) On August 24 and approximately 15 minutes after its 
20:30 departure from Bishkek's Manas International Airport 
for Teheran, Aseman Airlines flight IRC 6895 carrying 83 
passengers and seven crew members crashed killing 65 people 
on the plane.  No one was killed on the ground.  Kyrgyz and 
Iranian citizens constituted the majority of the passengers 
and victims, although there were Canadian, Chinese, Kazakh 
and Turkish citizens on board. 
 
¶3.  (U) The airplane, which was returning to the airport 
after reporting technical problems, crashed into a remote 
field several miles northwest of the airport.  In response to 
Kyrgyz requests, Manas Air Base (which is co-located with the 
airport) sent firefighting and medical personnel and 
equipment to the scene of the crash.  Base personnel provided 
necessary supplies, such as masks, gloves, and body bags to 
assist in the recovery of remains. 
 
¶4.  (U) Although operating as an Iranian flight, the 
aircraft, a Boeing 737, belonged to Kyrgyz carrier Itek Air. 
Kyrgyz Director of Civil Aviation Alik Askarov informed the 
media that the Boeing 737 had been manufactured in 1980, was 
last repaired in May 2007 in Kazakhstan, and had its last 
technical examination in early August 2008. 
 
Investigative Steps 
------------------- 
 
¶5.  (U) In response to the accident, Kyrgyz officials 
convened an investigative commission chaired by Prime 
Minister Igor Chudinov that will oversee a separate working 
group, led by Director of Civil Aviation Askarov, which is 
charged with investigating the accident.  The Kyrgyz General 
Prosecutor's office has also initiated a criminal 
investigation into the accident. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) The Embassy officially relayed the offer of 
investigative assistance from the National Transportation 
Safety Board (NTSB) team via diplomatic note to the Kyrgyz 
Foreign Ministry August 25.  Deputy Foreign Minister Ermek 
Ibraimov subsequently told Charge that the offer would be 
reviewed by the investigative commission, but cautioned 
against dispatching the NTSB team until the Kyrgyz side 
responds.  He indicated that investigative assistance would 
be coming from the Moscow-based MAK Interstate Aviation 
Committee, and also believed that a Boeing representative 
would be part of the MAK team.  Embassy will relay the Kyrgyz 
reply to the assistance offer when available. 
 
BISHKEK 00000874  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶7.  (SBU) All air carriers registered in the Kyrgyz Republic 
are banned from travel to the European Union out of concern 
over the safe maintenance and operation of their aircraft. 
Kyrgyz officials discussed the ban with International Civil 
Aviation Organization (ICAO) and U.S. Federal Aviation 
Administration officials in early April, and were making 
preparations for an ICAO audit next year.  This issue may 
influence Kyrgyz attitudes towards the investigation into 
this fatal accident. 
LITZENBERGER