Harrowing footage has shown an air ambulance crash land seconds after takeoff, as it flipped over when it hit a pond of water from melted snow.
The aircraft was taking a man who had suffered a heart attack for urgent medical treatment in Kazakhstan.
The patient, 60, two medics, and two crew were evacuated from the air ambulance which came to a rest upside down in the shallow water.
Three ambulances were immediately called to the scene and transported those who needed treatment to the hospital.
Miraculously, no-one was seriously wounded in the incident involving an An-2 plane of Navigator Airlines, according to reports.
The crash was blamed on gusty wind causing a sharp decrease in altitude on takeoff.
An official statement said: ‘In order to transport the patient to the Kostanay Regional Hospital, at 16:09 an air ambulance team consisting of two pilots, a doctor and a paramedic flew to the city of Arkalyk [to collect the man].
’Due to gusty winds, the air ambulance plane overturned at the time of takeoff.
’The patient was later transported to the Arkalyk Regional Hospital without injuries and in stable condition. He is now continuing treatment in the hospital.’
The ambulance service said: ‘Fortunately, everyone on board the plane is alive.
’The crew, the patient and the air ambulance team were taken to the emergency room of Arkalyk district hospital for examination.
’None of the members of the air ambulance team needed hospitalisation.’
A commission was established to investigate the accident.
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