Aircrash claims 68 lives in Kyrgystan

BISHKEK - A passenger jet carrying 90 people, including a Kyrgyz high school sports team, crashed shortly after takeoff Sunday near the Kyrgyz capital, killing 68, government officials said.

The Boeing 737 was headed to Iran when it crashed near Bishkek’s Manas International Airport, said government spokeswoman Roza Daudova. Twenty-two people, including two crew members, survived the accident.

Earlier, Daudova had said there were at least 68 dead and 25 survivors, but she later gave lower figures.