AKIPRESS.COM - Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a telegram of condolences to President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev over a plane crash outside Almaty, Zakon.kz reports.

"Russia shares sorrow about those, who lost their relatives and ftiends, and hopes for a speedy recovery of all wounded," Putin said in his message.

53 people were hospitalized with various injuries, 9 of whom are children, the Kazakhstani Ministry of Health said.

The Bek Air plane crashed near Almaty today at 7.22 am. 93 passengers and 5 crew members were on board.