A TRAGIC accident unfolded near Aktau, Kazakhstan, when an Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 passenger plane crashed and burst into flames, resulting in significant casualties. The plane, carrying 67 people (62 passengers and 5 crew), was en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Chechnya, but was rerouted to Aktau due to heavy fog in Grozny.
According to the Kazakh Emergencies Ministry, 25 people survived the crash and were transported to the hospital, with five in critical condition. The ministry’s initial report indicated 28 survivors, but the death toll has since been clarified. This means at least 37 people perished in the crash. The nationalities of the passengers included 37 Azerbaijanis, six Kazakhs, three Kyrgyzstani citizens, and 16 Russians.
Videos circulating online show the plane experiencing a rapid loss of altitude and banking sharply before impacting the ground and igniting. Reports suggest the aircraft circled the airport several times, attempting an emergency landing, before ultimately crashing.
The Kazakh transport ministry is investigating the cause of the crash. Preliminary information suggests a possible collision with a flock of birds and a subsequent steering malfunction may have contributed to the accident. Despite the pilots’ attempts to regain control and altitude, the aircraft ultimately lost control and crashed. A full investigation is underway to determine the exact sequence of events leading to this devastating incident.
