Authorities have reported that at least 29 people have survived a plane crash near the Kazakh city of Aktau. The incident occurred when Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243, carrying 62 passengers and 5 crew members, made an emergency landing approximately 3 kilometers from Aktau. The flight was en route from Baku to Grozny when the crash took place.
Rescue workers have been searching for other passengers who are feared dead. Among the survivors are two children, all of whom have been taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Kazakhstan's Ministry of Emergency Situations responded to the crash, finding the aircraft on fire upon arrival. Rescue units were able to extinguish the fire.
Video footage of the crash shows the plane circling erratically before hitting the ground and bursting into flames. Preliminary information from Russia's aviation watchdog suggests that the pilot decided to make an emergency landing following a bird strike.
The passengers on board were of various nationalities, with citizens from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia. The Kazakh government has initiated a commission to investigate the cause of the crash and provide support to the families of the victims.
Both Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan will collaborate on the investigation to determine the circumstances leading to the tragic incident. The airline has assured the public that additional information will be shared as it becomes available.
