A tragic plane crash on Christmas Day claimed 42 lives and left 28 survivors in Kazakhstan. An Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190, en route from Baku to Grozny, crashed near Aktau, bursting into flames upon impact.
The plane, carrying 67 passengers and five crew members, sent out a distress signal after a suspected bird strike caused an oxygen tank explosion. Witnesses saw the aircraft erupt into a fireball, with thick smoke filling the air. Bloodied survivors emerged from the wreckage, their faces reflecting the horror of the crash.
The incident occurred just three kilometers from Aktau, a key oil hub. Emergency responders quickly reached the scene, but of the 28 survivors, seven remain in critical condition, including two children. Tragically, reports suggest both pilots were killed, with only one crew member surviving.