Kazakh Emergency Minister Chingis Arinov arrives in Aktau

Rescue operations are ongoing following the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane near Aktau, Kazakhstan, Kazinform News Agency cites the press service of the Emergency Situations Ministry of Kazakhstan.

Kazakh Emergency Situations Minister Chingis Arinov arrived in Aktau.

According to the ministry, 482 persons, 97 vehicles, two helicopters and four canine crews are engaged in rescue operations at the crash site.

Search work is underway with the involvement of the canine service of the Kazakh Emergency Situations Ministry.

Emergency Ministries of Kazakhstan, Russia and Azerbaijan conduct information exchanges via videoconferencing.

The Azerbaijan Airlines plane, which was operating a flight en route Baku-Grozny, crashed Wednesday morning near Kazakhstan's Aktau city. 69 people, including 5 crew members, were onboard. 28 passengers were hospitalized.

The government commission headed by Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Kanat Bozumbayev began its work at the crash site of the plane.

As was reported, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov reported to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on the current situation related to the passenger plane crash near Aktau.

Upon Kazakh President Tokayev’s instruction, an ambulance aircraft left Astana headed to Aktau.

It was reported that President Tokayev tasked to set up a state commission in connection with the plane crash.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev cut short his trip to Russia due to the plane crash.

Earlier, Kazinform News Agency presented the preliminary list of passengers onboard the crashed plane.

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expressed his condolences to Azerbaijan’s President Aliyev following the incident.