Turkish cargo airline says cause of crash not clear

ISTANBUL - A Turkish cargo airline said on Monday that it is still not clear what caused its cargo plane to crash near Kyrgyzstan's main airport earlier in the day.

"The cause of the accident is unknown at this time and further details will be provided as they become available," said a message posted on the website of the Istanbul-based ACT Airlines, also known as MyCargo Airlines.

Initial reports misidentified the ill-fated aircraft, which was flying from Hong Kong to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan's capital, as belonging to the Turkish Airlines.

"Please kindly be informed that neither the aircraft nor the crew are the members of Turkish Airlines," the Turkish national flag carrier said in a statement.

The cargo plane, a Boeing 747-400, crashed into a village near Bishkek's Manas International Airport when it tried to land in poor visibility, killing at least 37 people and destroying dozens of houses, press report said.