What's New
Footage has emerged showing survivors being pulled from the wreckage of a passenger plane crash in Kazakhstan.
The clip, shared on social media, shows the aftermath of an Azerbaijan Airlines aircraft crash near the city of Aktau in the Central Asian country on Christmas morning.
What to Know
The Embraer 190 plane, flight J2-8243, crashed while attempting an emergency landing about 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) from Aktau.
There were 62 passengers and five crew members on board, many of them Azerbaijani nationals.
Dozens are feared dead, with around 32 people believed to have survived.
Video shows people being pulled from the wreckage, with others who appear to have minor injuries walking away. Emergency services, along with members of the public, are assisting survivors, according to the footage.
The clip was shared on Telegram by Baza, a news outlet with sources in Russian law enforcement, The Guardian reported.
Black smoke is visible in the background, billowing from what appears to be another part of the wreckage.
Other unverified footage shared on social media shows what appears to be the moment the plane crashed into a field and burst into flames near Aktau, a city on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea.
The passenger plane was traveling from Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia. The cause of the crash remains unknown.
Russian state-owned news agency Tass reported the flight was diverted from landing in Grozny due to fog.
Azerbaijan's Prosecutor General's Office said at least 32 people survived, though the numbers are not final. Officials estimate more than 30 fatalities.
Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported that 37 Azerbaijani citizens were on board, along with 16 Russians, six Kazakh nationals, and three Kyrgyz nationals.
Azerbaijan Airlines posted the names of those on the flight online and a hotline has been created for family members of passengers.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev was en route to St. Petersburg to attend a summit of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) members when news of the crash broke. His flight returned to Azerbaijan and he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin while in the air.
What People Are Saying
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's office in a statement: "The heads of state expressed condolences to each other, to the family members and loved ones of those killed in the plane crash, among whom were citizens of Azerbaijan, Russia, and other countries, and wished a speedy recovery to the wounded."
Russian President Vladimir Putin said while opening the CIS member states meeting: "A tragedy occurred today in Aktau. A plane crashed, people died, there are many wounded. On your behalf, I would like to express condolences to the families of those killed and all those injured. Let's hope for their recovery."
Kazakhstan's Emergencies Ministry said in a statement: "A total of 52 rescuers from the Kazakh Emergencies Ministry and 11 pieces of equipment arrived at the crash site. Upon arrival, they saw the plane in flames. Firefighters are now extinguishing it. Information about the injured is being clarified, but according to preliminary data, there are survivors."
Azerbaijan Airlines said: "There were 67 people on board, including 62 passengers and five crew members. There were no children among the passengers, and information about the injured will be provided shortly. According to available information, survivors are receiving initial medical assistance. Contacts are being established with the Kazakh authorities, and necessary operational support is being provided by Kazakhstan's emergency rescue agencies at the scene."
What Happens Next
An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash.
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