Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashes in Kazakhstan, dozens feared dead

Dec. 25 (UPI) — An Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane from Azerbaijan to Russia crashed in Kazakhstan while trying to make an emergency landing, killing dozens.

The plane had transported 67 people62 of them were passengers, from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Chechnya, when it crashed Wednesday morning near Aktau, Kazakhstan.

The Kazakh Ministry of Health released a list of 29 survivors, including two children, but the death toll has not yet been confirmed. The survivors were hospitalized with various injuries.

Russia’s state aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, said in a statement that the plane had attempted to make an emergency landing in Aktau after collides with a flock of birds in the air. Azerbaijan Airlines confirmed that the plane had crashed 1.8 miles outside of Aktau.

The Kazakh Emergencies Ministry said flames had started at the crash site but were quickly extinguished.

This was declared by the Azerbaijani president, Ilham Aliyev, on Thursday a day of mourning for the victims of the crash.

Investigations into the cause of the accident are underway.