Cargo aircraft crashes killing seven on board

Airline Industry Information, May 18, 2004

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

A cargo aircraft has crashed just two minutes after take-off from the capital of the Xinjiang region in northwest China.

The Russian-made Il-76 aircraft crashed about six miles from the airport in Urumqi, killing all seven crew members on board. Rescuers have said that no one was injured on the ground. The aircraft - which belonged to a private Ukrainian air carrier - is said to have crashed into cowsheds and burst into flames after appearing to attempt an emergency landing.

Rescuers have recovered the bodies of the seven crew members, reported Reuters.

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