Passenger Plane on the way to Russia crashes near Kazakhstan’s Aktau, many feared dead, 38 dead, 29 injured
ASTANA/TBILISI/BAKU, Dec 25 (Reuters) – A passenger jet operated by Embraer (EMBR3.SA) crashed near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of 38 people, while 29 survivors were taken to the hospital for treatment, according to Kazakh authorities. The Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243 had deviated significantly from its scheduled route, ultimately crashing on the opposite side of the Caspian Sea. Russia’s aviation watchdog indicated that the incident may have been triggered by an emergency situation, potentially due to a bird strike, although an aviation expert expressed skepticism about that explanation.
Officials have not provided an explanation for why the plane crossed the sea, but the crash occurred shortly after drone strikes targeted southern Russia. In the past, drone activity has led to airport closures in the region, and the closest Russian airport along the plane’s route was shut down on Wednesday morning.
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev stated that, based on the information he received, the plane altered its course due to adverse weather conditions. However, he emphasized that the cause of the crash remains unknown and requires a thorough investigation.
This is a profound tragedy that has brought immense grief to the Azerbaijani people,” he stated. Footage of the crash revealed the aircraft plummeting swiftly before erupting into flames upon striking the shoreline, with thick black smoke billowing upwards. Injured and bloodied passengers were seen emerging from a section of the fuselage that had survived the impact.
A map illustrating the route taken by a passenger jet from Azerbaijan to Russia, highlighting a lengthy segment where the precise path was previously unknown before the crash occurred.
