Aktau, Dec 25
A passenger plane carrying over 100 people crashed near Aktau Airport in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, according to reports from the country's Emergencies Ministry.
Local media outlet Kazpravda.kz reported that the crash caused a fire at the site.
"A total of 52 rescuers from the Kazakh Emergencies Ministry and 11 pieces of equipment arrived at the scene. Upon arrival, they found the plane engulfed in flames. Firefighters are currently working to extinguish the blaze. Preliminary data suggests there are survivors," the Ministry stated.
Initial reports indicate that at least 105 passengers and five crew members were on board. While the exact toll remains unclear, at least 25 survivors have been reported, with 22 hospitalised.
Rescue operations are ongoing, and details about the victims are being verified.
The plane, an Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer ERJ-190, was flying from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny in Russia's Chechnya. It was rerouted to Aktau due to dense fog.