A passenger plane has crashed with 67 people on board in Kazakhstan, local authorities say.
The plane, operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, caught fire as it went down near the city of Aktau but the fire has since been put out, they said.
There were 67 people on board, including 62 passengers and 5 crew members.
Preliminary reports indicate that the crash was caused by a collision with a flock of birds. Due to heavy fog at Grozny airport, the plane was initially redirected to Makhachkala and then to Aktau. At the time of the emergency landing, the crew did not receive clearance to land in Grozny.
The passengers included citizens of several countries: 37 from Azerbaijan, 16 from Russia, 6 from Kazakhstan, and 3 from Kyrgyzstan.
According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Health, 25 injured individuals have been taken to hospitals, 12 of whom sustained serious injuries. Six people are reported to be in critical condition.
BREAKING: Azerbaijan Airlines flight traveling from Baku to Grozny crashes in Aktau, Kazakhstan, after reportedly requesting an emergency landing pic.twitter.com/hB5toqEFe2
— RT (@RT_com) December 25, 2024
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Another video showing the crash of Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243 pic.twitter.com/Ze5pQ7Grv9
— BNO News Live (@BNODesk) December 25, 2024
