A passenger plane with around 70 people on board crashed in Kazakhstan, with local officials confirming multiple fatalities. Azerbaijani authorities reported at least 30 survivors.
Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243, en route from Baku to Grozny, Russia, was diverted due to fog and attempted an emergency landing near the city of Aktau.
The aircraft, an Embraer 190, caught fire as it descended, with footage showing it heading rapidly toward the ground with its landing gear deployed before bursting into flames.
The crash occurred approximately 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) from Aktau.
Flight data showed the plane took off from Baku at 03:55 GMT and crashed at 06:28 GMT. Some reports suggest the aircraft collided with a flock of birds before the crash, though this has not been confirmed.
The number of passengers on board has been reported as either 62 or 72, with survivors ranging from 28 to 32.
The passengers were mostly Azerbaijani nationals, with some from Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Unverified footage from the scene showed survivors crawling from the wreckage, some visibly injured.
Authorities from Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have launched investigations, and Embraer, the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer, has expressed its readiness to assist the ongoing inquiries.
The BBC reached out to Azerbaijan Airlines for comment. Embraer is known for its strong safety record, competing with Boeing and Airbus in the aviation industry.
Source-BBC
