Turkish plane carrying 56 people crashes: CNN-Turk

ANKARA, Nov 30, 2007 (AFP) - A Turkish plane carrying 56 people crashed Friday as it was preparing to land in the southwestern province of Isparta, the CNN-Turk news channel reported.
The wreckage of the plane, operated by the private carrier Atlasjet, has been found in the village of Cukuroren, it said, without giving details.
The MacDonnell Douglas 82 carrying 49 passengers and seven crew disapparead from the radar around 01:36 am (2326 GMT) shortly after the pilot said he was descending to land at Isparta airport, Tuncay Doganer, the chief executive of Atlasjet, told the channel.
It had taken off from Istanbul at 00:51 am (2251 GMT).
"The plane is somewhere near the airport, but we do not know where it is," Doganer said.
Local police and paramilitary troops were immediately alerted, while two helicopters were sent from the capital Ankara to help in the search, CNN-Turk said.

11/30/2007 04:41 GMT