A tragic plane crash near Kazakhstan’s Aktau Airport on Wednesday morning has claimed the lives of at least 38 people and left 29 others injured, according to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations.

The Azerbaijan Airlines flight was en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, but was rerouted to Aktau due to heavy fog in Grozny, according to the Kazakh Transport Ministry. The aircraft, carrying 64 passengers and five crew members, crashed close to the Caspian Sea while attempting an emergency landing.

Among the injured, several, including two children, are in critical condition, said Kazakhstan’s Deputy Health Minister. Emergency response teams are still finalizing the list of casualties.

Preliminary findings suggest the crash may have been caused by a bird strike that led to engine failure, according to a Ministry of Emergency Situations spokesperson. However, a criminal case has been initiated by Azerbaijan’s Prosecutor General’s Office, which is working alongside Kazakh authorities to investigate the incident.

“All possible causes are being explored,” Farid Huseynov, a spokesperson for Azerbaijan Airlines, said during a press briefing.

The Transport Ministry reported that the victims included 37 Azerbaijani citizens, six from Kazakhstan, three from Kyrgyzstan, and 16 from Russia.

Rescue operations are ongoing with 432 personnel, 79 vehicles, and 10 canine units deployed to the crash site. Rescuers are working around the clock, using special equipment to search for additional victims.

Kazakhstan’s Minister of Emergency Situations, Maj. Gen. Chingis Arinov, stated that local authorities are providing full support to the investigation team.

Embraer, the Brazilian manufacturer of the aircraft, expressed its condolences and confirmed its commitment to assisting authorities.

This incident has sent shockwaves through Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, with both governments promising a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the tragedy.