Reports indicate that dozens of passengers are feared dead following a crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines flight near the Caspian Sea on Wednesday.

Kazakh authorities reported that the Embraer 190 jet, carrying 62 passengers and five crew members on a flight from Azerbaijan to Russia (flight J2-8243), had deviated significantly from its planned route before crashing. Thirty-two survivors have been rescued.

The reason for the plane’s deviation across the Caspian Sea remains unclear, but the incident occurred shortly after a reported drone attack in southern Russia. Closures of nearby Russian airports due to drone activity have been reported in the past, and the nearest airport along the flight path was closed on Wednesday morning.

Russia’s aviation authority suggests a potential bird strike as a possible cause of the emergency.

According to Kazakh officials, the passengers comprised 42 Azerbaijani, six Kazakhstani, and three Kyrgyzstani citizens.

Interfax news agency, citing preliminary emergency worker assessments, reported the death of both pilots. The agency also cited medical personnel who stated that four bodies have been recovered.

The ministry informed RIA Novosti, as reported by the Associated Press, that 29 survivors, including two children, have been hospitalized. The whereabouts of many passengers remain unknown.

Video footage obtained by Reuters shows the plane making a rapid descent before impacting the shore and erupting in flames, followed by a large plume of black smoke. The footage also depicts injured passengers emerging from a relatively intact section of the fuselage.

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, who was en route to Russia, returned to Azerbaijan upon learning of the crash, according to his press service. President Aliyev was scheduled to attend a CIS leaders’ meeting in St. Petersburg.

President Aliyev expressed condolences to the victims’ families via social media, stating, “It is with deep sadness that I express my condolences to the families of the victims and wish a speedy recovery to those injured.”

He also declared December 26th a national day of mourning in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan Airlines issued a statement pledging to provide updates and altered its social media profile images to black. The airline stated, in a translated version, “We ask God for mercy on the passengers and crew members who lost their lives. Their pain is our pain. We wish a speedy recovery to those injured.”

Reuters and