Kazakhstan:
In a devastating incident that has sent shockwaves across the region, an Azerbaijani passenger jet en route to Russia crashed near Kazakhstan’s Aktau on December 25, 2024, resulting in the loss of at least 38 lives. The ill-fated flight, operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, was initially headed from Baku to Grozny in Russia’s Chechnya but was rerouted due to dense fog in the destination area.
The Embraer ERJ-190 aircraft, carrying 67 passengers and five crew members, made several circles over the Aktau airport before the tragic crash. According to Kazakhstan’s Emergencies Ministry, the plane was found on fire upon the arrival of rescue teams, who promptly began extinguishing the blaze. Despite the heroic efforts, the majority of those on board did not survive.
Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbaev confirmed the death toll during a meeting with Azerbaijani officials. The Azerbaijan prosecutor general’s office reported that 32 of the 67 people on board had survived the ordeal. The survivors are currently receiving treatment at a nearby hospital.
The crash site saw a swift response from Kazakh emergency services, with 52 rescuers and 11 pieces of equipment deployed to manage the situation. A national operations centre was established at the ministry headquarters to coordinate the response efforts.
The flight had taken off from Baku at 3:55 am UTC and was exposed to strong GPS jamming, which caused it to stop transmitting before the crash. On board were passengers from various countries, including 37 from Azerbaijan, 16 from Russia, six from Kazakhstan, and three from Kyrgyzstan. Russian media reported that 10 Russian citizens were among the survivors.
Videos circulating on social media showed the plane flying at a low altitude before crashing and erupting into a fireball. First responders were seen near the wreckage, working tirelessly to locate any survivors. The cause of the crash is still under investigation, with preliminary reports suggesting a possible bird strike or technical problem.
Azerbaijan Airlines acknowledged the incident on their Instagram handle, stating that the aircraft made an emergency landing approximately 3 kilometres near the city of Aktau. Further details about the incident are expected to be released as the investigation unfolds.
Russia’s aviation watchdog said in a statement that preliminary information suggested the pilot had decided to make an emergency landing after a bird strike. However, authorities are looking into different possible versions of what had happened, including a technical problem.
