WATCH: Azerbaijan Airlines Plane Crashes Near Airport

Deadly Crash Near Aktau

Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243, en route from Baku to Grozny, crashed near Kazakhstan’s Aktau city on Wednesday, killing at least 38 of the 67 people on board. The plane, diverted due to thick fog, made an emergency landing 3 kilometers from the airport but burst into flames upon impact.

Rescue teams and local volunteers quickly arrived at the scene. Among the 29 survivors, including two children, many were severely injured. A young girl, seen crying and pleading for help, asked rescuers to save her mother, who remained trapped in the wreckage. Elmira, a volunteer, recalled the harrowing scenes of survivors covered in blood and asking for assistance, as temperatures dropped and many had no jackets.

Witnesses reported seeing the plane descending rapidly with its landing gear down before crashing. Some unconfirmed reports suggest a bird strike might have caused the crash. Authorities have recovered the plane’s black box, and an investigation is underway with cooperation between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.

Among the victims were passengers from Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. One woman was heading to Chechnya to reunite with her children, while a mother carrying medical test results for her sick child remains missing.

The survivors, many in critical condition, were rushed to local hospitals. While the cause of the crash remains under investigation, the bravery of those who aided in the rescue efforts stands as a testament to the human spirit in the face of disaster.