GUWAHATI: An Azerbaijan plane carrying over 60 people crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on Wednesday, December 25, leaving dozens feared dead and over 20 passengers surviving.
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According to the Kazakh Emergencies Ministry, the crash occurred close to Aktau airport as the aircraft attempted an emergency landing.
The Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190, flight number 8243, was en route from Baku to Grozny in Russia's Chechnya but was diverted due to heavy fog at its destination. While initial reports indicated that the plane was carrying 62 passengers and five crew members, conflicting accounts have emerged about the exact number of people onboard.
Authorities further confirmed that at least 20 passengers survived the crash. However, fatalities are expected to be significant, with news reports suggesting that up to 42 people may have lost their lives, though an official confirmation is awaited.
Visuals shared on social media purportedly show the aircraft crashing and erupting into a fireball. Other clips depict first responders at the crash site, working to rescue survivors from the wreckage.
Following the incident, firefighters promptly extinguished the blaze at the crash site, and survivors were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation at the moment, with officials considering technical issues as a potential factor.
