Boeing-737 Passenger Jet Headed For Iran Crashes In Kyrgyzstan With 123 Aboard

August 24, 2008 1:48 p.m. EST

Moscow, Russia (AHN) - A Boeing-737 passenger plane crashed shortly after takeoff from the Kyrgyzstan capital of Bishkek and burst into flames on Sunday, according to reports.

Russian news agency, RIA Novosti reported that the plane crashed shortly after take-off from an airport.

There was no immediate specific word on casualties, but a spokesman reportedly told a local radio station that there were victims.

The passenger jet had around 123 people on board, according to the local reports in Russia.

The Interfax news agency reported that the Boeing belonged to a private Kyrgyz company, Itek-Air.

The plane was heading from Kyrgyzstan to Mashhad in eastern Iran, based on the information released by a U.S. air base near the airport in Bishkek.