1 month ago
Last Updated:December 25, 2024, 21:06 IST
The ill-fated plane was travelling from Baku to Grozny in Russia's Chechnya but was rerouted due to fog in Grozny, as per reports.
The Azerbaijan Airlines plane was en route from Baku to Grozny in Russia's Chechnya. (Photo: X)
A passenger plane en route to Russia reportedly carrying 67 passengers, including five crew members, crashed near Kazakhstan’s Aktau area, the country’s Emergencies Ministry said on Wednesday. Authorities said at least 32 people have reportedly survived the crash even as several casualties are feared.
Kazakhstan deputy prime minister’s office said at least 38 people are feared dead in the crash, with 29 hospitalized including three minors.
The Azerbaijan Airlines plane was travelling from Baku to Grozny in Russia’s Chechnya but was rerouted due to fog in Grozny, as per reports. Kazakh media reports claim the plane made several circles over the airport.
Kazakhstan’s Emergency Ministry said 52 rescuers and 11 pieces of equipment arrived at the crash site in Aktau. The ministry said in a statement that fire services had put out the blaze and that survivors were being treated at a nearby hospital.
“Upon arrival, the aircraft was found on fire, and rescue teams began extinguishing the blaze. Details about casualties are still being confirmed, but initial reports suggest there are survivors," the ministry said. A national operations centre has been established at the ministry headquarters to coordinate the response.
The plane was an Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer ERJ-190 and took off from Baku at 3:55 am UTC (9:25 Indian time) towards Grozny, according to Flightradar24. The aircraft was exposed to strong GPS jamming due to which it stopped transmitting before the crash.
According to reports, 37 passengers of the passengers aboard the plane were from Azerbaijan, 16 from Russia, six from Kazakhstan and three from Kyrgyzstan. Russian news media outlets said that 10 Russian citizens survived the plane crash.
Videos on social media showed the plane flying at a low altitude before crashing to the ground and erupting into a fireball. Other visuals showed first responders near the wreckage of the plane, apparently trying to locate survivors. A third video showed the plane flying up and down minutes before it crashed near Aktau.
In a brief statement, Azerbaijan Airlines confirmed the crash on its Instagram handle. “The Embraer 190 aircraft operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, flight numbered J2-8243 on the Baku-Grozny route, made an emergency landing approximately 3 kilometres near the city of Aktau. Additional information regarding the incident will be provided to the public," it said.
Russia’s aviation watchdog said in a statement that preliminary information suggested the pilot had decided to make an emergency landing after a bird strike. However, authorities are looking into different possible versions of what had happened, including a technical problem.
Location :Kazakhstan
First Published:December 25, 2024, 12:47 IST
News world Passenger Jet On Way To Russia Crashes Near Kazakhstan's Aktau, At Least 38 Feared Killed
