Plane crash today: Video shows passengers emerging from rubble

Plane crash today: Video shows passengers emerging from rubble

What’s new

Footage has emerged showing survivors being pulled from the rubble of a passenger plane crash in Kazakhstan.

The clip shared on social media shows the aftermath of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash near the city of Aktau in the Central Asian country on Christmas morning.

What you should know

The Embraer 190 aircraft, Flight J2-8243, crashed during an emergency landing attempt about 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) from Aktau.

There were 62 passengers and five crew members on board, many of whom were Azerbaijani nationals.

It is feared that dozens of people have died; around 32 people are said to have survived.

Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash
Emergency specialists work at the crash site of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane near the western Kazakh city of Aktau on Dec. 25, 2024. A video has emerged showing survivors escaping the wreckage of the plane.

ISSA TAZHENBAYEV/AFP/Getty Images

The video shows people being pulled from the rubble while others walk away, apparently suffering minor injuries. According to the footage, emergency services along with members of the public are helping survivors.

The clip was shared on Telegram by Baza, a news outlet with Russian law enforcement sources. The Guardian reported.

Black smoke can be seen in the background rising from what appears to be another part of the wreckage.

Other unconfirmed footage shared on social media shows 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 en route from Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia. The cause of the crash remains unknown.

Russian state news agency Tass reported that the flight was diverted from landing in Grozny due to fog.

Azerbaijan’s Prosecutor General’s Office said at least 32 people survived, but the numbers were not yet final. Officials estimate more than 30 deaths.

Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported that 37 Azerbaijani citizens were on board, as well as 16 Russians, six Kazakh nationals and three Kyrgyz nationals.

Azerbaijan Airlines has published the names of those involved in the flight online and set up a hotline for family members of the passengers.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev was on his way 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 in the air.

What people say

The office of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in a statement: “The heads of state expressed their condolences to each other, to the families and loved ones of those killed in the plane crash, including citizens of Azerbaijan, Russia and other countries, and wished a speedy recovery to the wounded.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin said this at the opening of the meeting of CIS member states: “Today a tragedy occurred in Aktau. A plane crashed, people died, there are many injured. On your behalf, I would like to express my condolences to the families of those killed and all those injured. Let’s hope for her 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. When they arrived they saw the plane in flames, 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 on those injured will be announced shortly. According to available information, survivors are receiving first medical aid. Contacts will be established with the Kazakh authorities and the necessary operational support will be provided by the Kazakh rescue workers on site.”

What happens next

Investigations are currently underway to determine the cause of the crash.

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