Ankara, 26 May 2003 (RFE/RL) -- A Ukrainian transport plane carrying Spanish military personnel returning from a mission in Afghanistan crashed in northwest Turkey today. Turkish media report that the 62 passengers and 12 crew members were all killed.
Aviation officials said the YAK-42 plane was attempting to land in thick fog to refuel when it crashed on a mountain near the Black Sea port of Trabzon.
Trabzon Governor Aslan Yildirim said Turkish soldiers had recovered 25 charred bodies from the wreckage hours after the crash.
Private NTV television said the plane was flying from the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek to Zaragoza, Spain.
The troops from Spain were part of the International Security Assistance Force in Kabul, and they had helped with mine clearing and other tasks.
Aviation officials said the YAK-42 plane was attempting to land in thick fog to refuel when it crashed on a mountain near the Black Sea port of Trabzon.
Trabzon Governor Aslan Yildirim said Turkish soldiers had recovered 25 charred bodies from the wreckage hours after the crash.
Private NTV television said the plane was flying from the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek to Zaragoza, Spain.
The troops from Spain were part of the International Security Assistance Force in Kabul, and they had helped with mine clearing and other tasks.