Jakarta, Jan 31: Five Russians were killed and a sixth is feared dead after a chartered cargo plane crashed and burned near the East Timor city of Baucau today, the United Nations said. Deputy Commander of the UN peacekeeping force in East Timor, Brigadier General Justin Kelly said that five bodies have been recovered at this stage. United Nations police spokesman Fernando Souto said all six Russian nationals aboard the aircraft Ilyushin 76TD, were believed to have died.

UN spokeswoman Marcia Poole said the Russian-made plane crashed into the mountains near Baucau, East Timor's second city, as it was trying to land and missed the runway.

COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

She said the weather was foggy and visibility poor at the time. Souto said the aircraft, operated by Asia Aviation Air Cargo Transportation, went down about 1,700 metres from the airport and crashed into a village at 3:00 pm local time. No houses were hit and there were no casualties among local residents, he said.

Kelly said the UN's peacekeeping force had sent about 30 soldiers to the crash scene and they were searching the burned-out wreckage for the sixth victim believed to have been aboard.
East Timor Interior Minister Rogerio Lobato said the dead were crewmen on the aircraft.
Bureau Report