At least 29 passengers have survived a devastating plane crash near the Kazakh city of Aktau on Wednesday, authorities confirmed, while rescue teams continue searching for dozens of others feared to be dead. The crash involved an Azerbaijan Airlines flight, which burst into flames after crashing shortly after attempting an emergency landing.
The plane, flight J2-8243, was en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Chechnya, in Russia. It had 67 people aboard, including 62 passengers and five crew members. The aircraft made an emergency landing approximately 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) from Aktau, where it caught fire upon impact.
In a dramatic moment captured on video, survivors, including two children, were seen stumbling out of the wreckage of the burning plane. The surviving passengers were immediately transported to a nearby hospital, though many others remain unaccounted for.
Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations said fire and rescue teams responded quickly to extinguish the flames. Emergency crews arrived to find the aircraft engulfed in fire, and efforts were focused on saving those still alive amid the wreckage.
Witnesses to the crash reported that the plane was seen circling erratically before making its final descent and crashing into the ground. Videos from the scene show passengers covered in blood, emerging from the wreckage shortly after the explosion.
Preliminary reports suggest that a bird strike may have been the cause of the crash. Russia’s aviation authority confirmed that the pilot had attempted the emergency landing following the incident. Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport identified the nationalities of the passengers, including 37 Azerbaijani citizens, six Kazakhstani, three Kyrgyzstani, and 16 Russian nationals.
Kazakhstan’s government has announced the formation of a commission to investigate the crash, with plans to cooperate with Azerbaijani officials. A statement from the Kazakh authorities confirmed that a thorough investigation is underway and promised to assist the victims’ families.
“Our top priority is to provide aid to the families of those affected by this tragedy,” a government spokesperson said. “The Commission will ensure a comprehensive investigation into the causes of this horrific crash.”
Rescue operations continue, with hopes that more survivors can be found in the wreckage, as the tragic incident has left the nation in shock.
