"We express our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims of today’s passenger plane crash involving an Azerbaijani airline, which was flying from Baku to Grozny and crashed in Kazakhstan. We wish a speedy recovery to the injured," the statement read.
An Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 has been involved in a crash close to Aktau. Onboard the plane were 62 passengers along with 5 crew members. Among the survivors, 29 people made it out alive, while 11 are still in critical condition.
According to the latest information provided by Kazakhstani Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev, 38 people have died, reports the Polish state news agency PAP.
The crash victims include citizens from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Russia, as well as three passengers from Kyrgyzstan, all of whom survived, as stated by Kazakhstani Transport Minister Marat Karabayev.
The issues with the plane that crashed in Kazakhstan began 74 minutes before the disaster. Photo: PAP/EPA/AZAMAT/ARSENBAYEV/STR
Authorities are still working to finalize the full passenger list, while rescue teams are currently active at the scene of the accident. Upon hitting the ground, the aircraft caught fire.
The Kazakh government has set up a special commission, in cooperation with the prosecutor's office, to determine the cause of the crash.
The flight departed from Baku, Azerbaijan's capital, and was heading to Grozny. Originally set to land in Grozny, the plane was rerouted to Makhachkala and later to Aktau.
According to Russian media, the diversions were caused by heavy fog at Grozny's airport. The Embraer 190 went down during its landing attempt.
9 Emergency specialists work at the crash site of a passenger plane near Aktau, Kazakhstan, 25 December 2024. Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer ERJ-190AR passenger plane flying from Baku to Grozny crashed some three kilometres away from the city of Aktau. Photo: PAP/EPA/AZAMAT SARSENBAYEV
Source: IAR/PAP/MSZ/Reuters
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