The President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, has expressed his condolences to the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, following the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane near Aktau, Kazakhstan.

“On behalf of the people and government of Turkmenistan, as well as personally, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov conveyed his deepest condolences to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, regarding the numerous human casualties and injuries resulting from the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane,” read a statement by the TDH news agency.

In his message, the President of Turkmenistan extended words of sympathy and support during this difficult time to the families and friends of the victims, as well as wishes for the speedy recovery of the injured.

The Azerbaijan Airlines plane, en route from Baku to Grozny, crashed on the morning of December 25 near the city of Aktau in western Kazakhstan. According to the airline, there were 62 passengers and five crew members on board. Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Health reported that 28 people survived the crash.