A tragic plane crash near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on Wednesday, claimed numerous lives, with 29 survivors confirmed out of 67 people onboard.
Rescue teams continue their efforts to locate missing passengers feared dead, CNN reports.
The aircraft erupted into flames after crashing, with video footage capturing its erratic movements above the airfield before it plunged to the ground.
Emergency crews are working tirelessly to provide aid to the injured and search for others.
Preliminary findings from Russia’s aviation authorities indicate the pilot attempted an emergency landing following a bird strike.
The aircraft caught fire upon impact, with passengers, some visibly injured, seen escaping the wreckage.
The ill-fated Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243 was en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Chechnya, before the emergency landing roughly 3 kilometres (1.8 miles) from Aktau.
According to officials, among the survivors were two children, all of whom were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations reported that responders found the plane ablaze upon arrival and promptly extinguished the fire.
The transport ministry confirmed there were 62 passengers and 5 crew members onboard, including citizens of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia.
Azerbaijan Airlines announced that further details about the crash would be shared as the investigation progresses.
