A passenger plane carrying 62 people crashed near the city of Aktau in western Kazakhstan on Wednesday, leaving multiple casualties, according to Kazakh authorities. The Kazakh Transport Ministry confirmed the crash of the Embraer 190, operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, which was en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia. The ministry reported that the passengers included 37 Azerbaijani nationals, 16 Russians, two Kazakhs, and three Kyrgyz citizens. Azerbaijan Airlines issued a statement confirming the crash, clarifying that the aircraft had 62 passengers and five crew members aboard. The airline attributed the crash to a bird strike, though investigations are ongoing. The Embraer 190 crashed during its journey across the Caspian Sea region, from Baku to Grozny in Chechnya. Emergency response teams are at the site, and further details about the casualties are expected to emerge as investigations proceed. This tragedy has drawn attention to aviation safety in the region, as officials work to determine the full circumstances leading to the crash. — Agencies
