December 25, 2024: A plane operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, carrying over 70 passengers, crashed near Aktau in western Kazakhstan on Wednesday, with reports indicating that at least six passengers survived the disaster. The aircraft was en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, but was rerouted due to thick fog at its original destination in Chechnya.

Kazakhstan’s Emergencies Ministry confirmed the crash occurred near Aktau Airport, though the exact circumstances remain unclear. Authorities have yet to confirm the full extent of the fatalities, but the death toll is feared to be high, as many passengers are believed to have perished in the crash.

Social media posts began circulating with purported footage of the crash, showing the aircraft plummeting to the ground and erupting into a large fireball. Other videos appeared to depict first responders near the wreckage, working to rescue survivors from the twisted remains of the plane.

Emergency services from Kazakhstan are on the scene, conducting search and rescue operations. The cause of the crash is still under investigation, with initial reports attributing the crash to poor visibility caused by fog.

This tragic event has sent shockwaves through the region, with many awaiting further details on the fate of the remaining passengers.