Video footage reportedly from inside a plane moments before it crashed with 100 souls on board has emerged.
The Azerbaijan Airlines jet hit the ground and burst into flames in Aktau, Kazakhstan in a Christmas Day disaster. The doomed Embraer E190AR sent a distress signal at an altitude of 2,125 feet over the Caspian Sea following a collision with a bird as it had intended to reach Grozny in Russia, the Mirror reports.
From the camera footage, it appears passengers were aware the plane was going down, as some can be heard praying, while oxygen masks can be seen hanging from above the seats.
The man on board can be seen talking to the camera and sending a message to his wife.
There were at least 28 survivors, although it is feared many died, according to Kazakhstan Health Minister Akmaral Alnazarova said.
It is understood seven of the survivors are in critical condition, including two girls aged 11 and 16.
Kazaeronavigatsiya, the Kazakhstan air navigation service, said: “An Embraer 190 AHY8243 aircraft travelling on the Baku-Grozny route declared an emergency situation due to collision with a bird and violation of steering control. The aircraft was carrying 105 passengers and five crew members.”
Those on board were mostly Azerbaijani nationals, but there were also some passengers from Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Both Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have launched investigations into the accident.
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