An Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet tragically crashed in the Kazakhstani city of Aktau, resulting in significant casualties.
The aircraft was carrying 67 individuals, including five crew members, on its journey from Baku to Grozny in Russia when it encountered difficulties.
Kazakhstan’s emergency ministry reported that, while over 30 people are believed to have lost their lives, there are at least 32 confirmed survivors.
At the time of writing this report, emergency services have successfully recovered four bodies from the crash site.
The incident involved an Embraer 190 aircraft, which made an emergency landing approximately 3 kilometres from Aktau, an important oil and gas hub on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea.
Eyewitness footage depicted the plane descending sharply before it impacted the ground, resulting in a fireball. Other images captured parts of the fuselage separated from the wings, with wreckage found lying overturned in a grassy area.
Emergency responders promptly extinguished the fire and transported survivors—including three children—to a nearby hospital for treatment. Among the passengers, 37 were Azerbaijani citizens, along with 16 Russians, six Kazakhs, and three Kyrgyzstani individuals.
Russian news sources indicated that the flight had been rerouted due to low visibility conditions in Grozny.
Investigations into the crash are ongoing, with initial reports hinting at a potential technical issue. Russia’s aviation authority mentioned that early information suggested the pilot opted for an emergency landing following a bird strike.
In light of the incident, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has returned from Russia, where he was scheduled to attend a summit. He received condolences from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of Chechnya, also conveyed his condolences and noted that those hospitalized are in serious condition, expressing hopes for their recovery.
To further investigate the crash, Azerbaijan’s state news agency Azertac reported that several officials, including the emergencies minister and representatives from Azerbaijan Airlines, have travelled to Aktau to conduct an on-site examination.
