An Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on Christmas Day. Dozens are feared dead, with 27 survivors, including three children.
Azerbaijan Airlines Passenger Plane Crashes in Kazakhstan
Azerbaijan Airlines Plane Crashes in Kazakhstan on Christmas Day, Dozens Feared Dead
On Christmas Day, an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, leaving dozens feared dead. The Embraer 190 jet was carrying 67 people, including 62 passengers and five crew members. The flight was en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, but was rerouted due to dense fog before crashing in southwest Kazakhstan.
Preliminary reports suggest that up to 27 people may have survived the crash, including three children, with emergency services rushing the survivors to local hospitals. Kazakh health officials have confirmed the survivors’ injuries but have not yet released further details.
Most of the passengers were Azerbaijani nationals, with others from Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Russia’s aviation watchdog indicated that the crash may have been caused by a bird strike, leading the pilot to attempt an emergency landing.
Footage of the crash site shows the plane plunging before it turned into a fireball upon impact. Emergency crews worked quickly to extinguish the flames at the crash site.
The flight had declared an emergency above the Caspian Sea, and tracking data from Flightradar24 revealed fluctuations in the plane’s altitude and speed before the crash. The Caspian Sea region, known for its dense fog, is a challenging environment for aviation, contributing to the difficulties faced by the aircraft.
The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing, and more updates will be provided as authorities continue to assess the situation.
