Azerbaijan is observing a day of mourning following a tragic airplane crash off the coast of the Caspian Sea.
Authorities in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia are conducting investigations into the crash that occurred during an emergency landing, claiming the lives of at least 38 individuals.
Here is what we currently know about the incident.
Where did the passenger plane crash?
The plane went down approximately 3km (1.8 miles) from Aktau city in Kazakhstan, located on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea.
It was flying from the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku, to Grozny, the capital of the Chechnya region in southern Russia.
Who was on board?
The Embraer 190 aircraft, operating as flight number J2-8243, had 62 passengers and five crew members on board.
According to Kazakh officials, the passengers were citizens of four different countries:
- 42 Azerbaijani citizens
- 16 Russian citizens
- 6 Kazakh citizens
- 3 Kyrgyz citizens
How many of them survived?
There are 32 survivors, including two children, who are currently hospitalized with many in critical condition. Some survivors were rescued from the wreckage, while others managed to bring themselves out, injured.
The Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Kanat Bozumbayev, confirmed the death of 38 individuals in the crash.
Why did the plane crash?
Reports indicate that the crash resulted from an onboard emergency following a bird strike, as stated by Russia’s aviation authority on Telegram.
The plane had to divert from its original path due to dense fog in Grozny, its intended destination, and carry out an emergency landing.
Commercial aviation trackers noted the flight deviating from its course along the west coast before disappearing and later appearing on the east coast, circling near Aktau airport before the crash.
Russian President Ilham Aliyev stated that “there are various theories, but I believe it is premature to discuss them” before determining the cause of the crash.
What is the latest on the ground?
Emergency services are actively responding to the situation, with firefighters extinguishing the resulting blaze and medical teams treating the injured individuals.
Azerbaijan Airlines has halted flights between Baku and Grozny, as well as Baku and Makhachkala, until the investigation concludes. The airline has also set up a hotline for families and published the names of passengers on social media.
President Aliyev declared December 26 as a day of mourning in Azerbaijan and stated that the public would be regularly updated on the progress of the investigation.
What investigations are taking place?
Authorities from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Russia are conducting investigations into the crash. A team from Azerbaijan’s Prosecutor General’s Office has been dispatched to Kazakhstan to work at the crash site.
The investigations are looking into potential technical issues and airspace closures, with support from the aircraft manufacturer Embraer to determine the cause of the tragedy.
