Astana, Kazakhstan CNN —Dozens are feared dead after a passenger plane carrying 67 people from Azerbaijan to southern Russia crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau on Wednesday, local authorities said.
Video of the crash showed the plane erratically circling the airfield before the crash.
Russia’s aviation watchdog said in a statement that preliminary information suggested the pilot had decided to make an emergency landing after a bird strike.
There were 62 passengers and 5 crew members on board, Kazakhstan’s transport ministry said in a preliminary report.
It said 37 of the passengers were citizens of Azerbaijan, six of Kazakhstan, three of Kyrgyzstan, and 16 of Russia, according to preliminary data.
Persons:
”, Svitlana, Victoria Butenko, Lucas Lilieholm, Edward Szekeres
Organizations:
Kazakhstan CNN, Azerbaijan Airlines, Kazakhstan’s Ministry, Emergency, Kazakh
Locations:
Astana, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakh, Aktau, Baku, Grozny, Russian, Chechnya, Kyrgyzstan