Officials Report 29 Survivors and 38 Fatalities in Kazakhstan Plane Crash
A tragic plane crash near Aktau, Kazakhstan, has left 38 people dead and 29 others injured. The Azerbaijan Airlines flight, carrying 62 passengers and five crew members, was en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Chechnya, when it veered significantly off course and burst into flames upon impact.
Survivors and Casualties
Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister, Kanat Bozumbayev, confirmed the death toll and reported that the survivors, including two children, are receiving medical care in a nearby hospital. Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry stated that some of the injured remain in critical condition.
Crash Details
The Embraer 190 aircraft reportedly faced an emergency situation, potentially caused by a bird strike, before crashing approximately 3 kilometers from Aktau, a major oil and gas hub on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea. Both pilots are believed to have perished in the incident.
Footage from the crash site shows the aircraft engulfed in flames, with black smoke billowing into the sky. Survivors, visibly injured, were seen emerging from the wreckage, which had split apart during the crash.
Rescue Efforts
More than 150 emergency responders, including over 50 rescuers and specialist doctors flown in from Astana, Kazakhstan’s capital, were deployed to the crash site. Officials managed to extinguish the fire and locate the aircraft’s black box, which is crucial for determining the cause of the crash.
Speculations and Investigation
While initial reports point to a bird strike, there is speculation in Russian media about the possibility of the plane being mistakenly shot down by Russian air defenses amid drone activity in the region. Some footage and images from the site suggest damage consistent with shelling or shrapnel.
Flight data indicates the aircraft experienced irregular altitude changes and strong GPS jamming before the crash. The disruption, potentially linked to regional tensions, has been a known issue in the area.
National Mourning and Responses
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev declared December 26 a national day of mourning and cut short his visit to Russia to address the tragedy. “I express my condolences to the families of the victims and wish a speedy recovery to the injured,” Aliyev stated.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov also extended their condolences, with Putin personally speaking to Aliyev. Azerbaijan’s First Lady and Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva expressed her sympathies on social media.
Passengers and Investigation
Preliminary reports indicate that the passengers included 37 Azerbaijani nationals, 16 Russians, six Kazakhs, and three Kyrgyz citizens. Azerbaijan Airlines has launched a hotline for families of the victims and survivors.
Both Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have initiated investigations, with a joint commission set to examine the crash’s causes and ensure support for affected families.
This tragic event underscores the complexities of aviation safety in a region marked by geopolitical tensions and infrastructure challenges.
