Passenger plane crashes in Kazakhstan

ASTANA, Dec 25: A passenger plane crashed near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan on Wednesday and initial reports suggested there were survivors, the Central Asian country's Emergencies Ministry said in a statement.

The ministry said emergency services were trying to put out a fire at the crash site.

Russian news agencies said the plane was operated by Azerbaijan Airlines and had been flying from Baku to Grozny in Russia's Chechnya, but had been rerouted due to fog in Grozny.

There was no immediate comment from Azerbaijan Airlines.

Kazakh media said 105 passengers and five crew members were on board. Reuters could not immediately confirm that information.

Kazinform News Agency reported that Rescuers proceeded to extinguish the plane that caught the fire.

There is no exact information about the victims yet. According to preliminary information, some of the passengers survived. 

The Emergencies Ministry set up a headquarters and launched a hotline at 8 729 231 90 99.

The Kazakh Transport Ministry said that the Azerbaijan Airlines plane was travelling from Baku to Grozny.

A special investigation will be launched to determine the cause of the crash.