A devastating Christmas Day plane crash claimed the lives of dozens when an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger aircraft carrying 72 people went down in Kazakhstan near Aktau Airport, close to the Caspian Sea.
The Embraer 190, en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, was diverted to Aktau due to heavy fog in Grozny, according to Kazakhstan’s Transport Ministry. Tragically, the crash resulted in a fireball upon impact, with thick black smoke rising from the wreckage, as seen in dramatic footage circulating online.
Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations confirmed that the plane was carrying 64 passengers and five crew members. Of the 69 onboard, 29 survived, though many remain hospitalized, including two children. Authorities fear up to 40 fatalities, with several survivors in critical condition, according to Kazakhstan’s deputy health minister.
The Transport Ministry reported the nationalities of the passengers as 37 Azerbaijanis, 16 Russians, six Kazakhs, and three Kyrgyz nationals.
Investigations into the cause of the crash are underway, focusing on potential factors such as a bird strike, mechanical failure, and the decision to reroute the flight due to adverse weather.
Azerbaijan Airlines stated on X that the aircraft, operating flight J2-8243, attempted an emergency landing approximately two miles from Aktau Airport.
This tragic incident has cast a shadow over the holiday season, with authorities pledging a thorough inquiry to determine the cause of the crash.
