An Embraer 190 passenger plane operated by Azerbaijan Airlines crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on Wednesday, with 62 passengers and five crew members on board. Kazakh authorities reported that 32 people, including two children, survived the incident.
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Unverified video footage showed the aircraft, en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, bursting into flames upon impact on the seashore. Thick black smoke engulfed the area as bloodied and disoriented passengers emerged from a portion of the fuselage that remained intact.
Kazakhstan’s emergencies ministry confirmed that fire services extinguished the blaze. Survivors were transported to a nearby hospital, while recovery efforts for the deceased continued.
Azerbaijan Airlines stated that the flight, J2-8243, was forced to attempt an emergency landing approximately 3 kilometers from Aktau. The plane was on its scheduled route along the western Caspian Sea coast before veering off course. Tracking data revealed the flight circled near Aktau airport on the eastern shore before crashing onto the beach.
Kazakhstan’s government established a commission to investigate the crash, pledging cooperation with Azerbaijan. Authorities assured that support would be provided to the victims’ families.
Preliminary reports from Russia’s aviation watchdog indicated the pilot executed the emergency landing following a bird strike.
World leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, expressed condolences. President Aliyev, who was in Russia for a summit, returned to Azerbaijan following the crash. Ramzan Kadyrov, leader of Chechnya, also extended sympathies and noted that some survivors remain in critical condition.
