Abroad
Reports said that less than half of the people on board of the plane survived.
December 25, 2024, 05:23 PM
An Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane carrying over 60 people crashed on Dec. 25 in western Kazakhstan.
It was headed to Grozny in Russia’s Chechnya from Azerbaijan’s capital Baku.
According to Russian online news media Baza and French media France24, the Kazakh transport ministry said the plane had crashed near the Aktau city of Kazakhstan.
Flight J2-8243 was reportedly instructed to make an emergency landing approximately 3km away from the city, reported Reuters.
14 survivors rushed to hospital
Media reported that initial statements from local authorities said more than 20 survivors were taken to the regional hospital, with the exact casualty count still being tabulated.
Reports said 62 passengers and five crew members were on the Embraer aircraft.
Baza reported that citizens of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Russia, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan were on board the crashed plane, and passengers were as young as 11 years old.
The attempt at an emergency landing was said to have occurred near Aktau, which is an oil and gas hub on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea.
Emergency workers were deployed following the crash.
Investigations ongoing
A video shared on X showed moments when the crash occurred.
The Azerbaijan plane could be seen briefly descending before crashing onto the ground at the site and bursting into flames.
BREAKING: New video shows the moment Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243 plane carrying 72 people onboard crashes near Aktau Airport in Kazakhstan. pic.twitter.com/K3hJquZfjB
— AZ Intel (@AZ_Intel_) December 25, 2024
Footage of the wreckage shared on Facebook showed people being rescued and emerging from a part of the plane, which appeared to have been broken into two or more parts.
In the distance, smoke engulfed an unknown object on the ground, believed to be a severed part of the plane.
Media reports vary on why the plane was rerouted.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the crash.
Top photo via Telegram/BazaBazon