Wed Dec 25 12:03:41 UTC 2024: ## Azerbaijan Airlines Plane Crash in Kazakhstan Kills at Least 30
**Aqtau, Kazakhstan** – At least 30 people died when an Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer ERJ-190 passenger jet crashed near Aqtau International Airport in western Kazakhstan on Wednesday. The plane, en route from Baku to Grozny, Russia, was carrying 62 passengers and five crew members. Thirty-two survivors were pulled from the wreckage, with 22 hospitalized, including a young girl and teenager.
The aircraft, initially diverted to Aqtau due to fog in Grozny, experienced an unspecified emergency prompting an emergency landing request. Preliminary reports suggest a bird strike may have caused engine damage or steering malfunction, leading to a loss of control. Horrific videos circulating on social media show the plane plummeting to the ground before bursting into flames approximately three kilometers from the airport.
The plane’s flight path, tracked online, shows a deviation from its planned route and circling behavior before the crash. Images from the scene depict scattered debris across a field. Videos show survivors being rescued from the burning wreckage, with some visibly injured.
The nationalities of the passengers included 37 Azerbaijanis, six Kazakhs, three Kyrgyz citizens, and 16 Russians. Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev cut short a visit to Russia to return home following the tragedy. First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life. A full investigation into the cause of the crash is underway.
First Piper 