MOSCOW, January 16. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed condolences to his Kyrgyz counterpart, Almazbek Atambayev, over loss of life in the plane crash near Bishkek's airport, the Kremlin press service reported on Monday.

"The head of the Russian state noted in his cable that Russia shares the pain and anguish of the friendly people of the Kyrgyz Republic," the press service said. "Putin expressed support to those who have lost their loved ones in the crash and wished a speedy recovery to all those injured."

The Boeing 747 cargo plane crashed near the Manas International Airport at 7.30 a.m. local time (01.30 a.m. GMT) during the landing. Kyrgyzstan’s Transport Ministry said the plane was on the Hong Kong-Bishkek-Istanbul flight. There were five crew members onboard. The aircraft crashed at a suburban settlement, with 15 houses completely destroyed and 32 one-story residential buildings damaged.

According to preliminary data, 37 people, including crew members, died in the crash, 11 others were taken to Bishkek hospitals with multiple serious injuries.