Seven Russians killed in plane crash in Kazakhstan

Seven Russian citizens died in the crash of a passenger plane near Kazakhstan's Aktau. This was reported by Kazakhstan's Minister of Transport Marat Karabayev on December 25.

"There were 16 people from the Russian Federation [on board], seven people died, nine survived," Karabayev said at a briefing.

According to the latest data, 38 people were killed when the plane crashed.

Deputy Interior Minister Sanzhar Adilov said the investigative task force is currently conducting the necessary investigative actions.

Tragedy in Aktau: Baku-Grozny passenger plane crashed

A fire started at the scene and there are survivors

The passenger airplane of Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL), traveling on the route Baku - Grozny, crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau earlier in the day. The crew attempted to make an emergency landing at the city's airport, but the plane went down and caught fire. Preliminarily, the cause of the fall of the airplane could have been a collision with a flock of birds.

A criminal case was initiated under the article "Violation of safety rules in the operation of vehicles, resulting in the death of two or more persons by negligence".

The passenger list of AZAL lists 62 passengers and five crew members. According to the latest data, nine Russians were hospitalized. The Russian Emergencies Ministry's special airplane will take the Russian citizens injured in the crash to Moscow on the orders of Russian President Vladimir Putin.