AFGHAN PLANE CRASH (VOA 14 JAN)

DATE=1/14/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-225249 TITLE=AFGHAN PLANE CRASH (L) BYLINE=MEREDITH BUEL DATELINE=ISLAMABAD CONTENT= VOICED AT:

INTRO: RESCUE TEAMS HAVE FOUND THE WRECKAGE OF A PLANE FROM AFGHANISTAN THAT CRASHED INTO A REMOTE AREA OF PAKISTAN, KILLING 51 PEOPLE. AS CORRESPONDENT MEREDITH BUEL REPORTS -- 45 PASSENGERS AND SIX CREW MEMBERS DIED IN THE CRASH.

TEXT: RESCUE TEAMS HAVE REACHED THE REMOTE CRASH SITE NEAR THE BORDER WITH AFGHANISTAN.

COLONEL MUJTABA HUSSAIN OF PAKISTAN'S FRONTIER CORPS TOLD V-O-A THE RESCUE WORK HAS BEEN DIFFICULT BECAUSE OF A LACK OF ROADS, HEAVY FOG, AND SNOW. HE SAYS WHEN RESCUERS REACHED THE CRASH SITE THEY FOUND NO SURVIVORS.

// HUSSAIN ACT //

BY THE FIRST LIGHT THIS MORNING -- THAT IS ON THE 14TH -- THEY WERE ABLE TO FIND THE WRECKAGE AND THE DEAD BODIES WERE SCATTERED ALL OVER THE PLACE. THEY RECOVERED THE DEAD BODIES AND WE HAVE CORDONED THE AREA. WE ARE NOT ALLOWING ANYBODY TO GO INTO THE AREA UNTIL AN INSPECTION TEAM COMES THERE AND CARRIES OUT A SEARCH OF THE WRECKAGE AND TRIES TO RECOVER THE BLACK BOX (FLIGHT DATA RECORDER).

// END ACT //

COLONEL HUSSAIN SAYS THE VICTIMS APPEAR TO BE TALEBAN FIGHTERS. A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TALEBAN SAYS THERE WERE NO SENIOR LEADERS ON BOARD. SOME CIVILIANS WERE REPORTEDLY ON THE PLANE.

THE RUSSIAN-MADE ANTONOV-32 AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN A MOUNTAINOUS AREA NORTH OF THE PROVINCIAL CAPITAL OF QUETTA.

OFFICIALS SAY THE PILOT WAS TRYING TO LAND AT THE QUETTA AIRPORT WHEN THE PLANE APPARENTLY RAN OUT OF FUEL AND SLAMMED INTO A MOUNTAIN NEAR THE AFGHAN BORDER.

THE PLANE ENROUTE FROM THE SOUTHERN AFGHAN CITY OF KANDAHAR TO HERAT NEAR THE IRANIAN BORDER. IT WAS FORCED TO TURN BACK AND ATTEMPT A LANDING IN QUETTA DUE TO POOR WEATHER CONDITIONS OVER MUCH OF AFGHANISTAN. (SIGNED)