Footage shows emergency crews searching for survivors at the scene of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash in Kazakhstan on Christmas Day

The jet carrying 72 passengers had taken off from Baku in Azerbaijan bound for Grozny in Russia before when it attempted an emergency landing.

Footage captured the Embraer 190 jet descending erratically before hitting the ground and exploding in a fireball as shocked residents watched in Aktau, Kazakhstan.

The pilot was reportedly trying to make an emergency landing at the Aktau Airport. Officials said at least six people survived the crash.

Several are seen being treated on the ground next to the wreckage of the aircraft.

Emergency services were working to put out a fire at the crash site, Kazakhstan's emergencies ministry said.

Azerbaijan Airlines said in a statement: ‘The Embraer 190 aircraft operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, flight numbered J2-8243 on the Baku-Grozny route, made an emergency landing approximately three kilometres near the city of Aktau.

‘Additional information regarding the incident will be provided to the public.'

Embraer is a Brazilian aerospace company headquartered in Sao Paulo. It is one of the largest aircraft manufacturers in the world, behind Boeing and Airbus.