7 hurt in Kyrgyzstan plane crash landing

A passenger plane slid off a runway in Osh, Kyrgyzstan, while landing in bad weather Wednesday, but everyone on board survived, authorities said. ITAR-Tass and RIA Novosti reported seven of the 70 passengers aboard the Kyrgyzstan Airlines Tu-134 plane were injured in the noontime crash. A local government official told ITAR-Tass the injured passengers were taken to hospitals, but there was no report on the extent of their injuries. The airline told ITAR-Tass weather conditions appeared to have contributed to the accident. "According to the preliminary information, bad weather conditions, in particular heavy fog, caused the emergency landing of the plane that took off in Bishkek," the air carrier said. "Moreover, it is not ruled that a part of the landing strip was covered with ice. But all these versions are being investigated." Unidentified sources told ITAR-Tass one of the Russian-built plane's wings broke off and the aircraft came to rest on its side beyond the runway. The Russian news agency also said local media reported there was a fire. "The landing was performed in thick fog," RIA Novosti quoted an unidentified airline representative as saying. "The plane skidded off the runway and turned to the left side. Its wing was smashed off. A loud explosion was heard."