Passenger plane fly from Azerbaijan to Russia crashes in Aktau, Kazakhstan

A passenger plane flying from Azerbaijan to Russia crashed near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan, resulting four fatalities, according to Al Jazeera report, citing health officials and medical personnel.

According to Azerbaijan’s Emergency Ministry, 29 people, including two children, survived the crash and were hospitalized, as per Al Jazeera report.

Flight J2-8243, an Embraer 190 carrying 62 passengers and five crew members, was forced to make an emergency landing on Wednesday around 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) from Aktau.

According to Russian news agency Interfax, as quoted by Al Jazeera, as saying that there may be more survivors and quoted medical personnel at the scene reporting that four bodies have been recovered.

The ministry confirmed that fire services have successfully extinguished the blaze, with 150 emergency personnel were present at the location.

Preliminary reports indicate that the plane requested landing at an alternative airport prior to the crash due to heavy fog in Grozny, according to Al Jazeera’s report.

Kremlin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, “Unfortunately, Azerbaijan’s President Aliyev was forced to leave St Petersburg (where he had a summit). Putin has already called him and expressed his condolences in connection with the crash of the Azerbaijani plane in Aktau,” according to Al Jazeera.

“We deeply sympathise with those who lost their relatives and friends in this plane crash and wish a speedy recovery to all those who managed to survive,” he further added.

Russia’s Federal Agency for Air Transport, Rosaviatsiya stated in a statement that initial reports indicate the pilot had decided to make an emergency landing following a bird strike.

Kazakhstan’s Authorities stated a government commission had been formed to investigate the crash and the commission members have been instructed to travel to the site and ensure that the families of the deceased and injured were receiving the necessary support.

Al Jazeera quoted Russia’s Interfax news agency and reported that authorities of Kazakhstan were investigating the crash and exploring all potential factors that may have contributed to the incident.