Astana, Kazakhstan

An Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet on Wednesday (Dec 25) burst into flames as it was attempting an emergency landing in Western Kazakhstan, the Kazakh transport ministry said. According to preliminary reports, only 25 of the 67 people on board survived the crash.

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On social media application Telegram, the ministry wrote: "A plane doing the Baku-Grozny route crashed near the city of Aktau. It belongs to Azerbaijan Airlines."

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Meanwhile, the Airlines, which is Azerbaijan's flag carrier, said the Embraer 190 had "made an emergency landing" around three kilometres from Aktau, an oil and gas hub on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea.

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Casualties and more

As per the Kazakh transport ministry, there were 62 passengers and five crew members on board.

However, media reports have put the number high, up to 105, on board.  

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Kazakhstan's emergency situation ministry said that only 25 people survived the crash, which means 42 people may have perished in the incident.

"According to preliminary information, there are 25 survivors of whom 22 have been hospitalised," said the ministry on Telegram. Health officials had earlier said that 14 survivors had been hospitalised.

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Kazakhstan's Ministry for Emergency Situations earlier said its personnel were putting out a fire at the site.

(With inputs from agencies)