
An Embraer 190 passenger plane operated by Azerbaijan Airlines crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on Wednesday while en route from Azerbaijan to Russia, with 62 passengers and five crew members on board. Kazakh authorities reported that 32 people survived the incident.
Unverified footage showed the plane engulfed in flames upon impact, with thick black smoke rising from the wreckage. Survivors, including two children, were seen emerging from the fuselage, bloodied but alive. They are currently receiving treatment at a nearby hospital.
The flight, number J2-8243, was traveling from Baku to Grozny, the capital of Chechnya, when it was forced to make an emergency landing approximately 3 kilometers from Aktau. The aircraft had been tracked flying along the Caspian Sea before its signal was lost, only to reappear near Aktau airport moments before the crash.
In response to the tragedy, Kazakhstan’s government has established a commission to investigate the crash and is coordinating with Azerbaijan on the inquiry. Initial reports from Russia’s aviation authority suggest that the pilot may have attempted an emergency landing due to a bird strike.
Leaders from both Russia and Azerbaijan, including President Vladimir Putin and President Ilham Aliyev, have expressed their condolences. Ramzan Kadyrov, the Chechen leader, noted that several injured passengers are in critical condition and emphasized the need for prayers for their recovery.