Kazakhstan: Dozens killed as Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashes near Aktau, 28 survivors rescued (WATCH)
By Sunita Iyer | First Published Dec 25, 2024, 2:07 PM ISTAn Azerbaijan Airlines plane has crashed in the Kazakhstani city of Aktau, with Kazakhstan’s Emergency Ministry reporting that at least 28 people survived.
An Azerbaijan Airlines plane has crashed in the Kazakhstani city of Aktau, with Kazakhstan’s Emergency Ministry reporting that at least 28 people survived. This suggests that more than 30 individuals may have perished, with four bodies recovered so far.
According to a statement released by the ministry on Telegram Wednesday, there were 67 people on board, including five crew members. The ministry confirmed that 28 survivors have been hospitalized, and Russian news agency Interfax reported that there could be additional survivors.
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The Embraer 190 aircraft, operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, made an emergency landing 3 km from the city.
Initially, Kazakhstan’s Emergency Ministry reported that 42 people were feared dead and 25 people survived, later revising the number to 28 as rescue operations continued, lowering the estimated death toll.
Footage of Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 that crashed today in Kazakhstan with 67 passengers onboard. pic.twitter.com/cyQxIHlHzw
— Josh Cahill (@gotravelyourway)BREAKING - ⚡ An Azerbaijan Airlines flight with 72 people on board has crashed in Aktau, Kazakhstan. pic.twitter.com/Nz2IdaneRB
— Essence News_ (@EssenceNews_)The plane was en route from Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, to Grozny, a city in the Russian North Caucasus. A spokesperson for Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency stated that preliminary reports indicated the pilot diverted to Aktau after a bird strike caused an emergency onboard.
The passengers aboard the flight reportedly included 37 people from Azerbaijan, 16 from Russia, and 6 from Kazakhstan.
Mobile phone footage circulating online appeared to show the aircraft descending steeply before crashing into the ground in a fireball. Additional videos revealed part of the fuselage detached from the wings and the rest of the aircraft lying upside down in the grass. The footage matched the plane's colors and registration number.
Flight-tracking data from FlightRadar24.com indicated that the aircraft executed a sharp maneuver near Aktau Airport, with its altitude fluctuating significantly in the final moments before impact.
FlightRadar24 also noted that the plane experienced "strong GPS jamming," which caused it to transmit faulty ADS-B data. ADS-B is the system that allows flight-tracking websites to monitor aircraft in real time. In the past, Russia has been accused of jamming GPS signals in the region.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijan Airlines issued a statement saying it would provide public updates and changed its social media banners to solid black in honor of the crash.
The aircraft involved in the crash was an Embraer 190, a regional jet produced by the Brazilian manufacturer Embraer. Introduced in 2004, the Embraer 190 is designed for short-to-medium-haul routes, with a seating capacity ranging from 98 to 114 passengers. The plane involved in the crash was approximately eight years old, which is considered typical for commercial aircraft. Renowned for its reliability, the Embraer 190 is commonly used by airlines worldwide.
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