A tragic plane crash involving an Azerbaijan Airlines flight has left 38 people dead, while dozens more survived, according to local officials in Kazakhstan. The aircraft, carrying 67 people, was en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, but encountered difficulties and was diverted due to fog.
The plane, identified as an Embraer 190, attempted an emergency landing near the Kazakh city of Aktau. During the landing, the aircraft caught fire and broke apart approximately 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) from the city. Flight-tracking data indicated the flight departed from Baku at 03:55 GMT and crashed at around 06:28.
Video footage showed the aircraft descending at high speed with its landing gear deployed before bursting into flames upon impact. Survivors were seen crawling out of the wreckage, some with visible injuries, as emergency crews worked to extinguish the fire and search for victims.
Authorities from both Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have launched investigations into the crash, and the flight data recorder has been recovered. Various hypotheses about the cause of the crash are being examined. Unverified reports suggested the possibility of a collision with a flock of birds, while air defense experts speculated that the pattern of damage could indicate the involvement of a missile.
Officials emphasized the need to consider all possible scenarios, with Azerbaijan’s prosecutor general stating that no conclusions could be drawn until the investigation was complete. President Ilham Aliyev echoed this sentiment, calling for patience as authorities assess the evidence.
Following the crash, Azerbaijan Airlines announced the suspension of flights between Baku and the Russian cities of Grozny and Makhachkala until further notice. The airline expressed its commitment to cooperating fully with the investigation and assisting affected families.
Embraer, the Brazilian manufacturer of the Embraer 190, stated it was prepared to provide support to the relevant authorities. The company is known for its strong safety record and competes with larger aircraft manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus.
The passengers included a mix of Azerbaijani nationals as well as individuals from Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Among those who lost their lives was a woman traveling to spend the holidays with her children in Grozny, the capital of Chechnya. Another passenger, a mother traveling with medical documents for her ill child, remains missing.
One family recounted their anguish as they sought information about their missing father. The man had been traveling with his son, who survived the crash and managed to contact his sister, but there was still no news about their father’s fate.
Both countries have expressed condolences to the victims’ families and pledged to determine the exact cause of the tragedy. Emergency services in Kazakhstan have been praised for their swift response, containing the fire and assisting survivors.
This incident has highlighted the ongoing challenges of air travel safety and the importance of rigorous investigations to prevent future tragedies. The Embraer 190’s involvement in such a rare and devastating accident has raised questions that authorities are now working to answer.
