At least 42 people are likely dead after a plane crashed near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, AP reported. Initial reports suggested there were survivors. As per a report in news agency AP, Kazakhstan’s emergency ministry confirmed in a Telegram statement that the plane was carrying 67 people, including five crew.
It added that 25 of them have survived the crash, according to preliminary assessment, and 22 survivors have been hospitalised. As many as 37 passengers on the plane were from Azerbaijan, 16 from Russia, six from Kazakhstan and three from Kyrgyzstan.
Following the incident, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed grief over the loss of lives and said, “Moscow deeply sympathizes with those who lost their loved ones in the plane crash in Aktau”.
He also wished a speedy recovery to the injured victims and stated that President Vladimir Putin has spoken with Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev to offer condolences.
Russian news agencies said the plane was operated by Azerbaijan Airlines and had been flying from Baku to Grozny in Russia’s Chechnya, but had been rerouted due to fog in Grozny. There was no immediate comment from Azerbaijan Airlines. Videos circulating on social media showed the plane bursting into flames as it hit the ground and thick black smoke then rising.
BREAKING: Passenger plane crashes near Aktau Airport in Kazakhstan pic.twitter.com/M2DtYe6nZU
— BNO News (@BNONews) December 25, 2024
The Embraer 190 aircraft made an emergency landing at Aktau airport, according to Azerbaijan Airlines.
