At least 29 people have survived after a plane burst into flames after crashing near the Kazakh city of Aktau on Wednesday, authorities said. The Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243 was carrying 67 people on board when it made an emergency landing approximately 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) from Aktau, the carrier said. The plane was traveling from the Azerbaijani capital Baku to Grozny in the Russian region of Chechnya.
Extraordinary video from the crash captured the moment dazed survivors emerged from the wrecked plane. Two of the 29 survivors are children, authorities said, adding that all have been taken to a nearby hospital. Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations found the aircraft on fire upon arrival at the scene, with rescue units extinguishing the fire upon arrival.
The Russian aviation watchdog said preliminary information suggested the pilot had decided to make an emergency landing after a bird strike. There were 62 passengers and 5 crew members on board, with 37 passengers from Azerbaijan, 6 from Kazakhstan, 3 from Kyrgyzstan, and 16 from Russia, according to preliminary data.
The Kazakh government has set up a commission to investigate the cause of the crash, with Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan cooperating on the investigation. The commission will ensure a comprehensive investigation into the causes of the crash and take measures to provide priority assistance to the families of the dead and injured.
