A devastating plane crash occurred on Christmas Day near Kazakhstan’s Aktau Airport, claiming the lives of up to 40 people and leaving several others critically injured.
The Azerbaijan Airlines passenger aircraft, which was en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, was forced to reroute to Aktau due to heavy fog. 
Tragically, the Embraer 190 plane with flight number J2-8243 crash-landed just two miles from the airport, bursting into flames upon impact.
According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations, the aircraft was carrying 69 people—64 passengers and five crew members.
“We can confirm that 29 people survived the crash, and many have been hospitalized,” the ministry stated.
Among the injured were two children, with reports indicating that some survivors are in critical condition.
The Transport Ministry also revealed that the passengers included 37 Azerbaijani citizens, six from Kazakhstan, three from Kyrgyzstan, and 16 from Russia.
Kazakh authorities have launched a full-scale investigation into the cause of the crash, focusing on factors such as adverse weather, possible bird strikes, and mechanical failure.
“This is an unimaginable tragedy, especially during a festive season when families least expect such heartbreak,” authorities expressed.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijan Airlines confirmed in a statement that the aircraft had made an emergency landing, adding that efforts are ongoing to recover survivors and support affected families.
