What the company says . . .
"The TC-MCL registered, BOEING 747-400 typed aircraft owned by our company, was on her route from HONG KONG to BISHKEK when it crashed over Kyrgyz airspace approaching BISHKEK-Manas Airport on January 16, 2017 at 1:20 GMT time (4:20 am Turkish time)
"We are very sorry to announce that Captain Pilot Ibrahim Gürcan DIRANCI, Co-Pilot Kazim ÖNDÜL, Load Master Melih ASLAN and Flight Technician Ihsan KOCA passed away in this sad incident. Due to the fact that the aircraft crashed into the edge of a residential area, 33 civil people passed away along our 4 crew members, according to the first information we received. We want to express our deepest thoughts and condolences to the families of our crew members and the Kyrgyz people.
"There is no clear and confirmed information about the reasons for the incident yet. Our Company has commissioned two captain pilots at Manas Airport to investigate the accident together with authorities. Furthermore, our technic staff is on their way to the site. Also the investigation has started by both, Kyrgyz and Turkish Ministries of Transport and Communication and the General Directorate of Civil Aviation.
"We are in constant contact with the Ministry of Transport and General Directorate of Civil Aviation, Turkish Embassy in Bishkek-Kyrgyzstan, Airport Authority and Kyrgyzstan Civil Aviation Authority. Clear and confirmed information about the accident will be shared with the public when available.
"The flight with the cargo from Hong Kong to Bishkek-Istanbul was airborne as planned, after all the checks were carried out, and was on her way approaching Bishkek Airport without encountering any setback or problems during the flight.
"The crew rested for 69 hours in Hong Kong before the related flight and checked out for the flight to complete the 6-hour flight from Hong Kong to Bishkek. The airplane was lifted with a planned total of 85,618 kg "general cargo" load safely. There are no faults recorded in the technical log book of the aircraft.
"The crashed aircraft is a B747-400 freighter, manufactured in 2003 and with a cargo capacity of 116.462 kg. As of December 10, 2015, she was in the fleet of ACT Airlines. Maintenance of the related aircraft was carried on in timely manner and according to the aviation standards like the other aircrafts in our fleet.
"Our team which we lost were experienced and specialised flight crew that has carried out their professions with great success for many years. Captain İbrahim Gürcan DİRANCI and First Officer Kazım ÖNDÜL are ex-military pilots who have represented Turkish Air Force for many years abroad. Our Captain has a total of 10,821 flight hours of which 833 hours are on B744. Our First Officer has a total of 5910 flight hours of which 1771 hours are on B744.
"Our Load Master Melih ASLAN from the flight crew has been working in our Company since 2007 with vocational training and competence of total of 14 years of Load Master experience. Our Flight Technician Ihsan KOCA has served as a technician in the Turkish Air Forces for many years and has been serving in our Company since 2006.
"According to the first findings, it is understood that the reason of the related accident is not caused by technical reasons or loading related factors. The actual reason of the accident will be shared with the public after the inspection of aircraft and the place where the accident happened.
"All losses including life and property occurred in the accident is under coverage of insurance.
"Because of the accident, as ACT Airlines, once again we condole with the mourning people that lost their relatives, Kyrgyz people and Turkish Civil Aviation; and we sincerely share their grief."
ACT AIRLINES INC.