A passenger plane operated by Azerbaijan Airlines crashed near Aktau in western Kazakhstan on Wednesday, killing 38 of the 67 people on board. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev declared Thursday a national day of mourning.
The Embraer 190 aircraft was scheduled to fly from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia. However, it diverted from its planned route, flew across the Caspian Sea, and crashed three kilometres from Aktau, an oil and gas hub. Flight radar data showed that the plane had deviated from its path and had been circling before the crash.
Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev confirmed the death toll. Azerbaijan Airlines stated that the flight carried 62 passengers and five crew members.
"Disturbing video shows the final moments of the Azerbaijan Airlines flight, revealing repeated climbs and dives before the crash."#AzerbaijanAirlines #PlaneCrash pic.twitter.com/7waDmu07k2
— Mariam Robly | مريم روبلى (@MariamRobly) December 25, 2024Kazakhstan’s emergency ministry reported that 28 survivors, including two children, were hospitalized. The passengers included 37 Azerbaijanis, six Kazakhs, three Kyrgyz, and 16 Russians.
Kazakhstan has launched an investigation into the crash. Azerbaijan’s prosecutor general’s office announced that an investigative team led by the deputy prosecutor general had traveled to the crash site.
“All possible scenarios are being examined, and necessary expert analyses are underway,” the office stated.
Kazakhstan deployed 150 emergency workers to the crash site and extinguished a fire caused by the crash. The health ministry sent a specialized medical team from Astana to assist with treating the injured.
President Aliyev cancelled his planned visit to Russia for a Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit. He expressed condolences to the victims’ families and declared a day of mourning to honour those who lost their lives.
