Azerbaijan Airlines Passenger Plane Crashes in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan’s ministry of emergency situations reported there could be survivors among the passengers on board the Azerbaijan Airlines aircraft that crashed near Aktau, in the western Mangistau region.

The plane was en route from Azerbaijan’s capital Baku to Grozny, in the south of Russia. According to flight tracking monitors, it had deviated from its route, possibly to attempt an emergency landing. Official sources say the pilots communicated with Kazakhstan’s authorities at 11:10 local time on December 25.

According to official reports, 62 passengers and five members of the crew were on board.

UPDATE (13:00 local time): The ministry of transport said there were 37 citizens of Azerbaijan, 16 citizens of the Russian Federation, six citizens of Kazakhstan, and three citizens of Kyrgyzstan.

UPDATE (16:00 local time): Kazakhstan's ministry of emergency situations said that 29 of the passengers are currently in the hospital. At least 32 survived the crash.

UPDATE (22:15 local time): Vice-Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev flew to Aktau and led a government commission that confirmed the death of 38 passengers. All six passengers from Kazakhstan were declared dead.

UPDATE (26 December): Three members of the crew were reported killed in the crash, according to the latest official death toll. Azerbaijan officials previously reported that all five had died.

Updates to follow.