A plane crash near Aktau, Kazakhstan, resulted in significant loss of life. The Azerbaijani plane, carrying 67 people, was en route to Russia when it crashed, killing at least 38. Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbaev confirmed the death toll while meeting with Azerbaijani officials.
A devastating plane crash occurred near Kazakhstan’s Aktau area on Wednesday, involving an Azerbaijan Airlines flight en route to Russia. The Embraer ERJ-190 aircraft, which took off from Baku, was carrying 67 passengers, including five crew members. Due to foggy conditions in Grozny, the plane was rerouted, and Kazakh media reports suggest it made several circles over the airport before crashing.
According to Azerbaijan’s prosecutor general’s office, 32 survivors have been reported, although these numbers are subject to change. The Kazakhstan Emergencies Ministry dispatched 52 rescuers and 11 pieces of equipment to the crash site, where they extinguished the resulting blaze. Survivors are currently receiving treatment at a nearby hospital.
Preliminary investigations suggest the pilot may have made an emergency landing after a bird strike, but authorities are exploring alternative explanations, including technical issues. The plane’s GPS signal was disrupted due to strong jamming, causing it to stop transmitting before the crash.
The passenger manifest included individuals from Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Russian news outlets report that 10 Russian citizens survived the crash. Azerbaijan Airlines confirmed the incident on their Instagram page, stating that the aircraft made an emergency landing approximately 3 kilometers from Aktau.
