Azerbaijan Airlines Flight Crashes Near Aktau, Kazakhstan With 67 Aboard, Fire Erupts

An Azerbaijan Airlines passenger flight traveling from Baku to Grozny in Russia crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on Wednesday, according to the Kazakh Transport Ministry.

The Embraer 190 aircraft, carrying 62 passengers and five crew members, went down approximately three kilometers from Aktau, a key oil and gas hub on the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea.

In a statement, Azerbaijan Airlines, the nation’s flag carrier, described the incident as an emergency landing. Emergency services at the scene reported that a fire broke out following the crash, and efforts are ongoing to extinguish it.

“Initial reports indicate that there are survivors,” stated the Kazakh Ministry of Emergency Situations, adding that casualty numbers are still being confirmed.

This incident marks a serious event in regional aviation, with investigations likely to follow to determine the cause. Further updates will provide clarity on the condition of those on board and the circumstances leading to the crash.