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An Azerbaijani airliner carrying 67 passengers and crew crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on Wednesday, leaving 38 dead and 29 survivors, according to Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbaev.
The Embraer 190 aircraft, operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, was en route from Baku to Grozny, Russia, when it diverted to Aktau due to adverse weather. The plane crashed approximately 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) from the airport while attempting an emergency landing. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev confirmed the weather prompted the diversion but refrained from speculating further on the cause.
Russia’s civil aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, suggested a bird strike as the preliminary reason for the emergency. Additionally, FlightRadar24 reported “strong GPS jamming,” which disrupted the aircraft’s navigational data.
Footage shared on social media depicted the plane’s steep descent and subsequent crash, leaving wreckage scattered and the fuselage partially separated. Survivors were seen assisting others away from the site.
Azerbaijan Airlines has suspended flights to Grozny and Makhachkala and launched an investigation. Azerbaijani authorities, along with Russian and Kazakh officials, are collaborating to determine the cause of the crash. Embraer, the plane’s manufacturer, expressed readiness to assist in the probe.
President Aliyev declared December 26 a day of mourning, offering condolences to the victims’ families and wishing the injured a swift recovery. Russian President Vladimir Putin extended his sympathies and deployed emergency aid to Kazakhstan to assist with rescue efforts.
The crash marks a significant tragedy, with ongoing investigations into the exact sequence of events leading to the disaster.
