Kazakhstan's transport prosecutor's office has opened an inquiry into the crash of an aircraft operated by local carrier SCAT.

The prosecutor's office identifies the aircraft as a Bombardier CRJ200 and states that it came down 5km from its destination, Almaty, at about 13:00.

Flight DV760 from Kokshetau had been due to arrive at Almaty, the primary business centre of Kazakhstan, at 12:55 according to the flight status board at the city's international airport, which subsequently listed the service as a "late arrival".

Weather data for Almaty at the time of the accident warns of freezing fog and low visibility.

Preliminary information, says the prosecutor, indicates that the aircraft had 15 passengers and five crew members on board. The office has opened a routine criminal proceedings inquiry in the wake of the accident.

According to preliminary data on board the aircraft were five crew members and 15 passengers. Representatives from the ministry of internal affairs and emergency situations ministry are attending the scene.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news