A devastating plane crash occurred on Christmas Day in Kazakhstan, as an Azerbaijan Airlines flight carrying 105 passengers and crew members crashed while attempting an emergency landing.
The flight, en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, encountered difficulties mid-flight and crashed near Aktau, in western Kazakhstan.
The aircraft, an Embraer E190AR (registration 4K-AZ65), erupted in a massive fireball upon hitting the ground, sending thick black smoke into the air.
Firefighters were immediately dispatched to battle the flames at the crash site.
Initial reports from Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations confirmed that there were survivors, although the exact number of casualties was still being determined.
Kazakhstan’s Health Minister, Akmaral Alnazarova, reported that at least six survivors were in critical condition, with other sources suggesting the number could be as high as 12.
The flight had declared an emergency after experiencing a bird strike at 2,125 feet over the Caspian Sea, which caused a failure in the plane’s steering mechanism.
The aircraft reportedly began a steep descent and crashed as it attempted to land.
The flight had been rerouted due to heavy fog and was initially headed to Grozny, Chechnya, the capital of Russia’s Chechen Republic.
Of the passengers on board, about 60 were reportedly Russian nationals.
The cause of the crash, initially linked to a bird strike, has led to further investigations by local authorities.
Azerbaijan Airlines has yet to release an official statement regarding the crash, and the investigation is ongoing.
