An Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane crashed on Wednesday near the city of Aktau in western Kazakhstan, leaving 35 people feared dead, according to officials. The Embraer 190 was carrying 67 people, including 62 passengers and five crew members, when it went down approximately three kilometers (1.9 miles) from Aktau, an oil and gas hub on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea.
Azerbaijani authorities confirmed that 32 people survived the crash, which occurred during a flight from Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital, to Grozny, the capital of Russia’s Chechen Republic.
“A plane on the Baku-Grozny route crashed near the city of Aktau. It belongs to Azerbaijan Airlines,” the Kazakh transport ministry announced via Telegram. Azerbaijan Airlines, the country’s flag carrier, reported that the aircraft made an emergency landing shortly before the crash.
National Mourning Declared
In response to the tragedy, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev declared Thursday a day of national mourning and canceled his scheduled attendance at a Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit in Russia. Aliyev expressed his condolences to the victims’ families and pledged a thorough investigation into the incident.
“I extend my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the crash… and wish a speedy recovery to the injured,” Aliyev said in a statement.
Kazakhstan’s transport ministry reported that the plane was carrying nationals from multiple countries: 37 from Azerbaijan, six from Kazakhstan, three from Kyrgyzstan, and 16 from Russia.
Investigation Underway
The office of Azerbaijan’s prosecutor general announced that an investigative team, led by the deputy prosecutor general, had been dispatched to the crash site. “All possible scenarios are being examined, and the necessary expert analyses are underway,” the office stated.
Meanwhile, the Kazakh emergency situations ministry confirmed that emergency workers extinguished a fire that broke out upon impact. It also reported that 28 survivors, including two children, had been hospitalized. A specialized medical team was flown in from Astana, Kazakhstan’s capital, to provide further care.
International Condolences
Russian President Vladimir Putin conveyed his condolences to Aliyev during a phone call and dispatched an emergency team to assist at the crash site. “We extend our deepest sympathies to the families of the victims,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov also expressed grief over the incident, saying, “I extend my condolences to the relatives of the passengers of the Azerbaijan Airlines jet who died.”
First Lady of Azerbaijan and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva expressed her sorrow on Instagram: “I am deeply saddened by the news of the tragic loss of lives. My heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families and loved ones. Wishing strength and patience to them and a speedy recovery to the injured.”
Flight Deviation and Investigation
Flight tracking data showed the plane crossing the Caspian Sea off its usual route before circling the area near Aktau, where it ultimately crashed. Kazakh authorities have launched a formal investigation into the accident to determine its cause.
Emergency workers and investigators continue to operate at the crash site, with officials vowing to uncover the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident.
