An Azerbaijani airliner carrying 67 individuals tragically crashed in western Kazakhstan near Aktau on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of 38 people and leaving 29 survivors, according to information from Kazakh officials.
Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbaev provided updates on the situation while meeting with representatives from Azerbaijan. The flight, operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, included 62 passengers and five crew members. It is reported that both pilots did not survive the incident.
The Embraer 190 aircraft was on its way from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, when it encountered difficulty around two miles from Aktau. A preliminary assessment indicates that the plane experienced a bird strike that forced the pilots to divert to Aktau for an emergency landing. Due to low visibility caused by fog in Grozny, the aircraft had to change its flight path.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev addressed the media, stating that it was premature to speculate on the crash’s cause, but he confirmed that adverse weather conditions had necessitated the change in course.
Initial reports suggested that 25 people had survived, but this number was subsequently revised to 29 as rescue teams continued their operations, bringing hope amid the tragedy. Among the passengers were 42 Azerbaijani citizens, 16 Russians, six Kazakhs, and three from Kyrgyzstan. There have been inconsistencies in the number of survivors reported by various authorities.
Footage from the scene depicted the aircraft’s descent before the crash, with witnesses capturing moments of survival as individuals helped fellow passengers escape from the wreckage. The aircraft was said to have exhibited erratic movements in its final moments, attributed in part to reported GPS jamming that can complicate pilot navigation.
In response to this catastrophic event, Azerbaijan Airlines has pledged to maintain communication with the public and temporarily suspend certain flights until investigation conclusions are reached.
President Aliyev expressed his deepest condolences to the victims’ families and declared a day of mourning on December 26 as a mark of respect.
Despite the heartbreak of such an accident, the resilience exhibited by survivors and the prompt response from rescue teams and authorities highlight the strength of human spirit and community in overcoming adversity. The investigation into the crash promises to unveil important details aimed at improving aviation safety moving forward.