TRABZON - A Ukrainian passenger plane crashed near Macka town of northern province of Trabzon in Black Sea region early on Monday.
Officials at the Maritime Undersecretariat Main Search-Rescue Coordination Center told the A.A correspondent that a YK-42 type passenger plane of the Ukrainian Airlines had taken off from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan for Zaragoza, Spain but it disappeared from the Ankara Esenboga Airport Flight Information Center at 04.45 a.m. while it was approaching the Trabzon Airport for fuel supply.
The plane descended two times for landing as it could not see the runway, and later it tried for the third time but failed.
Sources said that the plane which crashed near Macka town of Trabzon was carrying 62 passengers and 12 crew members.
SPANISH AMBASSADOR SAYS THEY ARE WORKING IN CLOSE DIALOGUE WITH TURKISH GOVERNMENT AND ARMED FORCES
Spanish Ambassador to Turkey Manuel de la Camara said that they were working in close dialogue with Turkish government and Armed Forces about the plane crash.
Camara, Ukrainian Ambassador to Turkey Shor Dolhov and an accompanying delegation came to northern Trabzon province after a Ukrainian plane carrying Spanish soldiers crashed in Kockine region of Macka town of northern Trabzon province.
Spanish Ambassador Camara told reporters that they felt deep sorrow over the crash of the plane carrying 62 Spanish Peace Keeping Force soldiers and 12 crew members and said that they were working in close cooperation with Turkish government and Armed Forces.
Camara stated that all bodies were recovered and emphasized the friendship between Spain and Turkey.
Dolhov said that they felt deep sorrow over the plane crash and expressed pleasure with the close interest and efforts of Turkish government and soldiers.
Camara and Dolhov later left the region.
''I SAW A PLANE IN FLAMES WHEN I LOOKED AT THE SKY''
Witness Adil Yilmaz told the A.A correspondent that he heard a voice as he was about to go to mosque for morning prayer around 4.30 local time.
Yilmaz said there was thick fog, noting that, ''I saw a plane in flames when I looked at the sky. Two minutes later, I heard two big explosions. Several other explosions also occurred afterwards. We later called the Gendarmerie.''
SAHINKAYA MAYOR AKKAYA: ''WHEN WE WENT TO SCENE OF PLANE CRASH, PARTS OF PLANE WERE BURNING''
Mayor Mehmet Akkaya of Sahinkaya hamlet in Macka town of northern province of Trabzon, said that they went to the scene immediately after the plane crashed near Macka and stated that there was a heavy fog in the region and they did not see any injured people.
Witness Akkaya told the A.A correspondent that they heard noise of a plane in the morning and they went to the scene of the plane crash with a ten-member team.
''The plane split into many parts. Some parts were burning. We saw many bodies around the wreckage. There were many charred bodies around the wreckage of the plane. We searched around the wreckage. There was a heavy fog in the region. We did not see any injured people. We called fire-fighters and gendarmerie teams. Fire-fighters came to the scene and started efforts to put out fire. Some witnesses said that they saw the plane in flames when they looked at the sky,'' Akkaya noted.
NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTER GONUL: ''DELEGATION OF SPANISH DOCTORS HAS BEEN CARRYING OUT INVESTIGATION IN SCENE OF CRASH''
National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul said that the delegation of Spanish doctors had been carrying out an investigation in the scene of crash in northern province of Trabzon.
Responding questions of journalists, Gonul said, ''bodies of 62 Spanish soldiers and 12 crew members aboard the Ukrainian plane were found. The Trabzon Municipality will provide coffins for bodies.''
Noting that a delegation of doctors came to the province together with Defense Minister Federico Trillo of Spain, Gonul told reporters, ''the delegation of Spanish doctors has been carrying out investigation in the scene of the crash. Teams from civil aviation also arrived in Trabzon. They have been trying to reveal cause of the crash. Another delegation will come to Trabzon from Ukraine tomorrow. Defense Minister Trillo and I will go to scene of the crash tomorrow.''
Meanwhile, Trillo said that Turkey had done a very successful work to recover bodies and thanked Turkish officials.
Noting that Spanish doctors would concentrate on identification of the bodies, Trillo added that they would visit the scene of crash on Tuesday.
62 SPANISH SOLDIERS ABOARD PLANE IDENTIFIED
A total of 62 Spanish soldiers aboard the Ukrainian plane were identified.
Ministry of National Defense officials announced names of soldiers as follows:
Jose Ramon Solar Ferro, Felipe Perla Muedra, Jose Fernandez Martinez, Jose Manuel Ripolles Borros, Antonio Novo Ferrerio, Ignacio Gonzales Castilla, Manuel Gomez Gineres, Santioga Gracia Roya, Jesus Mariano Pinan Del Blanco, Juan Ignacio Lopez De Borbon, Jose Maria Munoz Damian, David Arribas Cristobal, Antonio Cebrecos Ruiz, Sergio Maldonado Franco, Mario Goncales Vecente, Godofredo Lopez Cristobal, Jose Ignacio Pacho Gonzalez, Cesar Barciela Gonzalez, Emilio Gonzalo Lopez, Juan Jimenez Sanchez, Franccisco Cobas Libero, Juan Bonel Suarez, Miguela Diaz Caballero, Alberto Mustienes Luesma, Javier Hernandez Sanchez, Fancisco De Alarcon Garcia, Sergio Lopez Saz, Inigo Maldonado Franco, Blas Aguilar Ortega, Rafael Martinez Mico, Juan Ramon Maniiro Cruz, Juan Jesus Nieto Mesa, Eduardo Hernandez Manez, Miguel Senchez Alcazar, David Gonzales Paredes, Jose Gabino Hernandez, Ivan Jesus Rivas Rodriguez, Feliciano Vegas Javier, Jose Ignocio Viciosa Garcia, Ýsrael Ferrer Novarro, Jesus Garcia Gimeno, David Gil Fresnillo, Jose Pazos Vidal, Eduardo Rodriguez Alanso, Fracisko Morro Aller, Petro Rodriguez Albarez, Jose Sencianes Lopez, Jose Moreno Murcia, Francisco Cardona Gil, Miguel Calvo Fuentes, David Panos Saa, Joaquin Alvarez Vega, Miguel Algaba Garcia, Ismael Vicente, Juan Tornero Rodenas, Fernonda Espana Aparisi, Vicente Agullu Canda, Juan Bohobona Dominguez, Javier Gomez De La Mano, David Garcia Diaz, Edgar Vilardell Inistia and Carlos Oriz Garcia.
(UK-BRC-ÖS-AY-MS-EO) 26.05.2003