TezJet fleet grounded following MD-83 incident in Bishkek

Image: Airports of Kyrgyzstan

Fleet of the Kyrgyz private airline TezJet, whose McDonnell Douglas MD-83 aircraft was involved in a serious aviation incident this morning, has been temporarily grounded. This was announced by the state-owned Airports of Kyrgyzstan company, which noted that the suspension is an exclusively preventive measure and will remain in effect until all necessary safety verifications are completed.

According to updated data, the incident occurred today, July 7, during preparations for a scheduled domestic flight from Bishkek to Osh. After taxiing and lining up on the runway, the MD-83 aircraft (registration number EX-80003) suffered a collapse of its left main landing gear during pre-flight procedures.

As a result of the landing gear failure, the aircraft banked to the left, causing its wing to make contact with the runway surface. Passengers were promptly evacuated using emergency slides, and no injuries have been reported. An official investigation into the matter is currently being conducted by the Civil Aviation Agency of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Efforts are underway to remove the aircraft from the runway. Consequently, Manas International Airport (FRU) has been temporarily closed to all arrivals and departures until 06:00 local time on July 8.

TezJet’s fleet consists of four aging aircraft, including two MD-83 narrowbodies and two Avro RJ85 regional jets. The carrier utilizes the MD-83 aircraft on its primary domestic route between Bishkek and Osh, as well as on three international routes connecting the Kyrgyz capital to Moscow, Delhi, and Tashkent.

CentralAsia+ Aero earlier reported: Air Astana A321neo makes emergency landing following engine failure.