An Embraer passenger jet en route from Azerbaijan to Russia crashed near Aktau city in Kazakhstan this morning, resulting in the deaths of 38 individuals, while 29 survivors were taken to the hospital for treatment, according to Kazakh officials.
Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243 veered hundreds of miles off its planned route before crashing on the opposite side of the Caspian Sea, following what Russia’s aviation authority described as an emergency that may have been triggered by a bird strike.
However, an aviation specialist indicated that this explanation seemed doubtful.
Authorities have not yet clarified the reasons for the plane’s deviation across the sea, but the crash occurred shortly after drone strikes targeted southern Russia. In the past, drone operations have disrupted airports in the area, and the nearest Russian airport along the flight path was out of service this morning.
Emergency services respond to the crash scene this morning.
“This is a significant tragedy that has left the Azerbaijani people in profound sorrow,” he lamented.
Footage of the crash depicted the aircraft descending rapidly before igniting in flames upon striking the beach, followed by thick black smoke billowing upward. Injured passengers were seen emerging from a remaining piece of the fuselage.
Reuters confirmed through visible landmarks that the video was recorded on the Caspian shoreline near Aktau.
There were 62 passengers and five crew members on board. Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev disclosed the death toll during a meeting with an Azerbaijani delegation in Aktau, as reported by the Russian news agency Interfax.
Kazakhstan’s emergencies ministry stated that fire services extinguished the blaze, and the survivors, including two children, were receiving treatment at a nearby hospital. Efforts to recover the deceased were underway.
Azerbaijan Airlines reported that the Embraer 190 jet was traveling from Baku to Grozny, the capital of Chechnya in southern Russia, but was compelled to make an emergency landing about 3 km from Aktau in Kazakhstan.
“Preliminary investigation suggests that after a bird strike and an ensuing emergency aboard, the captain opted to divert to an alternate airfield—Aktau was selected,” stated Russia’s aviation authority via Telegram.
Yet, Richard Aboulafia, an analyst at Aero Dynamic Advisory, argued that bird strikes usually lead to immediate landings in the nearest available area. “You might lose control of the aircraft, but you typically won’t stray far off course as a result,” he explained.
The nearest Russian airport along the flight path was closed.
Aktau lies across the Caspian Sea from Azerbaijan and Russia. Aviation tracking websites monitored the flight heading north along its scheduled route before losing track; it reappeared off the eastern coast, circling near Aktau airport before crashing onto the beach.
Authorities from two Russian regions neighboring Chechnya, Ingushetia and North Ossetia, reported drone strikes occurring this morning.
An official at Makhachkala airport in Russia, the closest airport to where the flight’s tracking ceased, informed Reuters that it had been shut down to incoming planes for several hours this morning.
Reuters also could not reach officials at the Grozny airport immediately.
Kazakh authorities mentioned that a government commission had been established to investigate the incident, with its members instructed to travel to the site and ensure support for the families of the deceased and injured.
Kazakhstan pledged to collaborate with Azerbaijan on the inquiry, stated the government.
Azerbaijan Airlines has suspended flights from Baku to Chechnya until the investigation concludes, as reported by Russia’s state TASS news agency, citing the airline.
President Vladimir Putin extended his condolences. Meanwhile, Mr. Aliyev, Azerbaijan’s president, decided to return home from Russia, where he was scheduled to attend a summit, according to his office.
Ramzan Kadyrov, the Kremlin-supported leader of Chechnya, also expressed his condolences in a statement, mentioning that some individuals receiving hospital treatment were in critical condition and that he, along with others, would pray for their swift recovery.
In an official statement, Embraer, the manufacturer, conveyed its condolences and expressed its willingness to assist authorities in their efforts.
