Bek Air’s Fokker 100 with 100 onboard crashes in Kazakhstan

A Fokker 100 aircraft belonging to Bek Air lost altitude and crashed into a building during takeoff near Almaty (Kazakhstan) on December 27, 2019. There were 98 people onboard; initial reports indicate that at least 12 of them have not survived the accident.

The flight Z2100, due to fly from Almaty to the capital Nur-Sultan, began takeoff at 07.21 am local time. At 07.22 am, the aircraft disappeared from the radar, according to information by Almaty International Airport.

The aircraft, which was carrying 93 passengers, including eight children, and five crew members, crashed during takeoff in the area of Almerek village. It lost altitude and hit a two-story building.

Official reports indicate that 12 people died during the accident (as of 4 pm local time). However, over 20 survivors are hospitalized, reportedly in critical condition. 

“Due to the emergency, the international airport of Almaty did not impose any restrictions on flights, all flights were operated in regular mode from the second runway,” Almaty International Airport announced.

Kazakhstan’s president Qasym-Jomart Toqayev has expressed deep condolences to the victim’s families and friends, stating that those found guilty of the accident would be “severely punished” in accordance to the law.

Founded in 2011, Bek Air is a scheduled airline based at Almaty Airport (ALA) in Kazakhstan. It served 10 domestic destinations using a fleet of 12 aircraft: ten Fokker 100s and one Airbus A340. Bek Air’s Fokker 100 fleet is over 27 years old.

The aircraft involved in the accident, registration number UP-F1007, first entered service in 1996. Following the accident, Kazakhstan’s Civil Aviation Authority has suspended Bek Air’s Air Operator’s Certificate.

Update:

At the time of the accident, weather conditions were described as difficult. Reuters reported that there was heavy fog, while survivors’ accounts describe walking from the crashed aircraft into the “dark and snow”.

The plane’s captain is among the twelve officially confirmed victims who have not survived the accident. The twelve deceased people are believed to be Kazakhstan citizens born between 1940-1986. 

A video published by the Committee for Emergency Situations, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs

Four foreign nationals from Ukraine, China and Kyrgyzstan were reportedly onboard the Flight Z2100. They appear to have survived the crash.

The airliner crashed into a residential building, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan. However, as the building was still under construction, there were no victims on the ground.

A video published by the Committee for Emergency Situations, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs