Flydubai Jet Crashes in South Russia
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SUBSCRIPTION SUNDAY, MARCH 20, 2016 JAMADA ALTHANI 11, 1437 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Kuwaiti MPs to Raids ‘kill 39 Interpol urges Indomitable discuss bedoons’ civilians’ in ‘extra vigilance’ Leicester naturalization Islamic State at borders after surge on in Comoros?3 bastion8 Abdeslam10 arrest towards20 title flydubai jet crashes in Min 12º Max 30º south Russia; 62 killed High Tide 10:45 & 22:10 Amir sends cable of condolences to Russian and UAE leaders Low Tide 04:05 & 16:20 40 PAGES NO: 16819 150 FILS MOSCOW: A Dubai airliner with 62 people on board nosedived and exploded in a giant fireball yesterday while trying to land in strong winds in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, killing all aboard, offi- cials said. Several planes had trouble landing at the air- port at the time of the crash, with one trying to land three times before giving up and diverting to another airport, experts said. Russia’s Emergencies Ministry said the Boeing 737- 800 operated by FlyDubai was carrying 55 passengers, most of them Russians, and seven crew members. FlyDubai confirmed there were no survivors and said four children were among those killed. It was FlyDubai’s first crash since the budget carrier began operating in 2009. Its fleet consists of mint 737-800 aircraft like the one that crashed. Closed-circuit TV footage showed the plane going down in a steep angle and exploding. The powerful explosion left a big crater in the run- way and pulverized the plane but investigators quickly recovered both flight recorders. The cause of the crash wasn’t immediately known, but officials and experts pointed at a sudden gust of wind as a possible reason. “By all appearances, the cause of the air crash was the strongly gusting wind, approaching a hurricane level,” said Rostov regional Gov. Vasily Golubev. According to weather data reported by Russian state television, when the FlyDubai plane first tried to land, winds at ground level weren’t dangerously strong, but ROSTOV-ON-DON: Russian fire servicemen check the wreckage of the Dubai plane that crashed at the Rostov- at an altitude of 500 meters and higher they reached a on-Don airport yesterday. (Inset) Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer of Flydubai reacts during a press near-hurricane speed of around 30 meters per second. conference. — AFP Continued on Page 13 Kuwait is ‘not a free-rider,’ security chief tells Obama Suicide bombing kills 5, KUWAIT: Kuwait is not a “free-rider” in world, especially when he mentioned US-led campaigns against terrorism and the Gulf.” Sheikh Thamer’s comments wounds 36 in Istanbul other threats, a senior Kuwaiti security were unusually critical of the United official said, rejecting comments by States for a Kuwaiti official. They echo President Barack Obama critical of some those on Monday by Saudi Arabia’s US allies. Sheikh Thamer Al-Sabah, Prince Turki Al-Faisal, a former intelli- Kuwaiti injured in Istanbul blast President of Kuwait’s National Security gence chief, who said the American Bureau, was referring to Obama’s leader had “thrown us a curve ball” in ISTANBUL: Five people including country’s security and stability. remarks to The Atlantic magazine last criticizing Riyadh’s regional role. a suicide bomber were killed and His Highness also reiterated week in which he said some states in the When asked about what Sheikh 36 wounded in an attack on a Kuwait’s firm position rejecting all Gulf and Europe were “free-riders” who Thamer said, the White House referred major shopping and tourist dis- forms and manifestations of ter- called for US action without getting to comments it made on Monday. trict in central Istanbul yesterday, rorism, praying to Allah the involved themselves. Spokesman Josh Earnest said the United in the fourth suicide bombing to Almighty to bless the victims’ In an interview, Sheikh Thamer said States viewed Saudi Arabia and the six- hit Turkey this year. There was no souls with mercy and those Kuwait, like fellow Gulf state Qatar, had nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) immediate claim of responsibility injured swift recovery. opened up air bases and airspace for the “as effective national security partners for the attack on part of Istiklal Two Turkish officials said evi- US-led coalition bombing Islamic State in who can and should do more.” “We’re Street, a long pedestrian street dence suggested the attacker Syria and Iraq. Aircraft from other Gulf encouraging them to do more to con- lined with global shops and for- was likely from the outlawed countries had carried out sorties, said tribute to the security situation in their eign consulates, a few hundred Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) or Sheikh Thamer, a member of Kuwait’s rul- region of the world.” meters from an area where police the Islamic State militant group. ing family. “I am just wondering what a buses are often parked. NATO member Turkey faces secu- free ride is when we do all of these Hot spot Kuwaiti Consulate in Istanbul rity threats from both the PKK in things,” he said, referring to Kuwait’s role. Kuwait, which borders Iraq and Saudi said a Kuwaiti national was slight- the mainly Kurdish southeast and “When we share intelligence, when we Arabia and lies across the Gulf from Iran, ly wounded in the suicide attack. has also been a target for Islamist open our air, land and sea, when we is working to combat the threat of The Consulate is following up the ISTANBUL: A suicide bombing ripped through a famous shopping militants. One of the official said spend billions of dollars in trying to com- attacks by Sunni Islamist militants like injured Kuwaiti’s condition with street in central Istanbul killing four people and injuring dozens the bomber had planned to hit a bat terrorism and trying to help the Islamic State on its own soil, Sheikh his family, urging Kuwaitis in less than a week after an attack by Kurdish rebels left 35 dead in more crowded spot. “The attacker Syrian refugees, how is it free?” he added. Thamer said, as well as Iranian-backed Turkey to contact it in case of Ankara. — AFP detonated the bomb before “I actually looked up ‘free ride’ in the operatives. In June last year a Saudi sui- emergency. Meanwhile, His to Turkish President Recep Tayyip sharply condemned this horrible reaching the targeted point dictionary and I would like other people cide bomber blew himself up at a Shiite Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Erdogan over the victims of yes- terrorist act that violates all reli- because they were scared of the to know what a free ride is and see what mosque in Kuwait, killing 27, in an attack Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah yes- terday’s suicide bombing. In his gions and human values, and that police,” the official said, we are doing here in this part of the Continued on Page 13 terday sent a cable of condolence cable, His Highness the Amir targeted safe innocents and the Continued on Page 13 Kohli sparkles; India thump rival Pakistan 19 pilgrims KOLKATA: Virat Kohli helped India sur- vive a top-order collapse and beat die in Saudi Pakistan by six wickets in a tight game yesterday to revive their World Twenty20 bus accident campaign and maintain their impeccable World Cup record against the arch-rivals. Kohli’s magnificent 55 not out was the RIYADH: At least 19 pilgrims died, all of them difference between the sides in the rain- Egyptian, and 22 were injured yesterday when their hit 18-overs-a-side match, coming under bus overturned in western Saudi Arabia, authorities in both countries said. The Tourism Ministry in Cairo said tremendous pressure on a prodigiously 19 Egyptian pilgrims and a child were killed and 15 turning track at Eden Gardens. were injured in the accident. “Nineteen people were Chasing 119 to secure their first win of killed when the bus carrying them turned over on the the tournament, India slumped to 23-3 in Hijra road” between the coastal city of Jeddah and the holy city of Medina, Saudi Red Crescent spokesman See Page 17 Khaled Ben Messaed Al-Sihli said. “All the bus passen- gers have the same nationality of an Arab country the fifth over before Kohli and Yuvraj except the driver who is Asian,” he said. Singh (24) shared a match-high 61-run Another 22 people were injured including some partnership to virtually take the game who were badly hurt, Sihli added. Millions of Muslims away from Pakistan. Home captain visit Saudi Arabia each year for the year-round umra Mahendra Singh Dhoni smashed a six to minor pilgrimage and the annual haj pilgrimage. level the scores and took a single to seal Jordan said on Wednesday that 14 pilgrims died and victory with 13 balls to spare as India another 36 were injured in another bus accident in bounced back from their shock opening southern Jordan near the Saudi border. The country’s defeat by New Zealand. Kohli made bat- civil protection service said the driver lost control of ting look ridiculously easy on a difficult the vehicle which turned over 320 kilometers south- track, embellishing his unbeaten 37-ball east of Amman. A stampede during the hajj last knock with seven fours and a six, and he KOLKATA: India’s Virat Kohli celebrates his team victory during the ICC World Twenty20 2016 cricket match against September killed about 2,300 foreign pilgrims, accord- was the obvious choice for the man-of- ing to data from foreign officials. — AFP the-match award.