An Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane traveling from Baku to Grozny, Russia, crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, early Wednesday, leaving 35 people dead and 32 survivors, including two children.
The Embraer 190 jet, operating as flight J2-8243, reportedly attempted an emergency landing approximately 3 kilometers from Aktau’s coastline after experiencing a suspected bird strike, according to initial findings by Russia’s aviation watchdog. Unverified video footage of the incident showed the plane bursting into flames upon impact with the ground, with thick black smoke rising from the crash site.
Kazakhstan’s emergencies ministry confirmed the fire had been extinguished, and the injured passengers were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. Authorities are working to recover the bodies of the deceased while providing support to their families.
The flight path data revealed the aircraft deviated from its route over the Caspian Sea, circling near Aktau airport before crashing into a beach. A government commission has been established in Kazakhstan to investigate the crash, with promises of collaboration with Azerbaijan.
Condolences have poured in from world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who cut short his visit to Russia to oversee the response. Ramzan Kadyrov, the Chechen leader, also expressed his sympathies, noting the critical condition of some survivors.
