An Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 passenger plane, operating flight J2-8243 from Baku to Grozny, Russia, crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on Wednesday. The crash left 28 survivors among the 62 passengers and five crew members on board, according to Kazakh authorities.
Details of the Crash
Unverified video footage of the crash shows the aircraft engulfed in flames upon impact, with thick black smoke rising from the scene. Passengers, some bloodied and injured, were seen emerging from parts of the fuselage that remained intact.
Kazakhstan’s emergencies ministry reported that the fire was extinguished and survivors, including two children, were being treated at a nearby hospital. Recovery efforts for the deceased were ongoing.
Cause Under Investigation
Preliminary reports from Russia’s aviation watchdog suggest that the crash may have been caused by a bird strike, prompting the pilot to attempt an emergency landing roughly 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) from Aktau, located along the Caspian Sea.
A government commission in Kazakhstan has been established to investigate the incident, with plans to coordinate with Azerbaijan in determining the cause of the tragedy.
Reactions and Condolences
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, who was in Russia for a summit, returned home upon learning of the crash. Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of Russia’s Chechnya region, expressed his condolences and noted that some survivors were in critical condition. He urged prayers for their recovery.