Boeing 737-300 overruns runway in Kyrgyzstan

Photo by Kyrgyzstan's Prosecutor General's Office

Early on the morning of November 22, a Boeing 737-300 operated by Kyrgyz carrier Avia Traffic Company overran the runway after a hard landing at Osh airport in Kyrgyzstan. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair. All those on board survived.

According to Azattyk radio, the Boeing 737-300 (tail number EX-37005, S. N. 24681, built in 1990) was frying from Krasnoyarsk, and was due to arrive at 0448 am, but had been diverted to Bishkek due to low visibility at Osh. The aircraft landed at Bishkek at 0502 am; after receiving clearance, it proceeded to Osh, landing there at 0743 am. The aircraft was carrying 148 passengers and five crew. Seven people were taken to hospital with injuries, Azattyk report.

The aircraft will be written off, the airline’s spokesperson has told Russian Aviation Insider. Avia Traffic Company has three more Boeing 737s, plus a single Avro RJ/BAe 146. The carrier will now have to revise its flight schedule; it is planning to replace the damaged aircraft with a similar used airliner by the beginning of the summer season, the spokesperson says.