An Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, as authorities investigate the incident which has left 38 people dead and 29 survivors. The Embraer 190 aircraft was on its way from Baku to Grozny when it experienced distress signals shortly before its landing attempt near the Caspian Sea.
The plane, carrying 67 individuals including 62 passengers and five crew members, lost radar signals and sent out a distress signal at 9:07 AM. By 9:28 AM, it made emergency landing attempts, landing at the outskirts of Aktau. Surviving passengers have recounted harrowing details of the incident, with passenger Subkhonkul Rakhimov stating, "There was an explosion - I wouldn't say it was inside the plane. Where I was sitting, the fuselage next to me flew off.”
Initial speculation about the cause of the crash points to external factors such as potential missile fire from Russian air defense systems, but official statements suggest the pilot claimed to have encountered bad weather, causing the aircraft to divert. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev remarked, "According to my information, the plane changed its route due to bad weather." Conversely, aviation expert Heinrich Grossbongart contests this narrative, stating, "The realistic scenario is external interference."
Hindsight reports suggest the flight faced serious navigation issues for the last 74 minutes, raising suspicions about potential GPS jamming, as Russian military bloggers allege the plane may have veered toward conflict zones where Ukrainian drones were operating.
The incident has prompted the Kazakh government to launch an investigation to determine whether air safety regulations were violated. The plane's black box has been recovered, guiding investigative efforts, with the manufacturer Embraer pledging support throughout the inquiry.
Social media is seeded with videos of the crash, showing the aircraft descending rapidly before erupting in flames upon impact. Reports indicate the front and central parts of the plane sustained catastrophic damage, complicate rescue efforts. Concurrently, images appear of rescue attempts by fellow passengers amid wreckage debris.
Among the deceased are predominantly Azerbaijani nationals, alongside passengers from Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. The airline has temporarily suspended flights between Baku and Grozny, alongside service to Makhachkala, indicative of the broader concern for operational safety.
The crash, classified as one of the deadliest air disasters involving Azerbaijan Airlines, raises alarm on aviation safety protocols, particularly involving flights traversing conflict-prone regions. A government commission continues to inspect the circumstances surrounding the tragedy, ensuring thorough scrutiny of all factors leading to this incident.
Details continue to emerge as investigations proceed. Interpretations of the crash vary widely, though consensus surrounds the need for heightened air safety measures due to the region's geopolitically charged atmosphere. The international community watches closely, hopeful for conclusive answers amid the chaos of loss.
The tragic accident resonates deeply, underscoring the fragility of flight safety and the urgency for comprehensive aerospace oversight, especially above sensitive geopolitical territories.
