An Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on Wednesday after crashing short of the runway during an emergency landing attempt, resulting in 29 survivors and 38 fatalities, according to Kazakh authorities.
The Embraer 190 aircraft, operating as flight J2-8243, was en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, when it diverted to Aktau due to adverse weather conditions, according to reports. The flight was carrying 62 passengers and five crew members.
Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev said that 29 survivors, including two children, were pulled from the wreckage, with 11 in critical condition. He added that the bodies of the deceased were “in poor condition, mostly burnt” and that identification would take place at a local morgue.
The Aviation Herald reported that the aircraft “impacted ground off the runway and caught fire” while turning onto the final approach for Aktau’s runway 11. Footage from the crash site showed the plane erratically circling the airfield before crashing and bursting into flames.
Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations confirmed that rescue teams found the aircraft on fire upon arrival but subsequently extinguished the blaze.
According to preliminary data from Kazakhstan’s transport ministry, the passengers included 37 Azerbaijani citizens, 16 Russian citizens, six Kazakh citizens, and three Kyrgyz citizens. None of the survivors were Kazakh nationals, according to the deputy prime minister.
Azerbaijan Airlines has released the names of all 62 passengers and five crew members on board. The list is published on the airline’s Facebook page.
“Contacts are being established with the Kazakh authorities, and the necessary operational support is being provided by Kazakhstan’s emergency rescue agencies at the scene,” Azerbaijan Airlines said in a statement posted on Facebook.
The airline has established a hotline for family members: (+994) 12 5048280, (+994) 12 5048202, and (+994) 12 5048203.
The cause of the crash remains unknown. According to CNN, Russia’s aviation watchdog suggested a bird strike may have led the pilot to make an emergency landing, although officials have not explained why the plane had crossed the sea.
The crash occurred shortly after drone strikes hit southern Russia, and the nearest Russian airport on the plane’s flight path was closed on Wednesday morning due to drone activity in the past.
Flight tracking website FlightRadar24.com identified the aircraft as an Embraer ERJ-190 with registration 4K-AZ65, aged 11.6 years.
According to FlightRadar24.com, the flight departed Baku at 3:55 UTC and was flying to Grozny. The aircraft experienced strong GPS jamming over the Caspian Sea, causing it to transmit faulty ADS-B data. The ADS-B signal was lost at 4:40 UTC, reappeared at 6:07 UTC, and the crash occurred at 6:28 UTC.
According to Azerbaijan state news agency AZERTAC, the pilot had extensive experience, with over 15,000 flight hours, and the plane underwent its last full technical inspection in October 2024. Bozumbayev stated that it was impossible to establish “even a preliminary cause” at this time.
Kazakhstan’s Transport Police Department has opened a pre-trial investigation into the crash. The plane’s black box has been recovered, according to the AZERTAC.
Both Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have launched investigations, and the Kazakhstan government has set up a commission to investigate the cause and assist passengers’ families.
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences and said a Russian Emergencies Ministry plane with medical personnel and equipment was being sent to Kazakhstan.
Azerbaijan Airlines has suspended flights from Baku to Grozny and Makhachkala until the investigation is complete. Embraer, the aircraft manufacturer, told the BBC it was “ready to assist all relevant authorities.” Embraer has a strong safety record.
This is a developing story, and Aviation Updates Philippines will provide further updates as they become available.
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