On December 25, 2024, an Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 aircraft, flight J2-8243, crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia. The plane had 67 people on board: 62 passengers and 5 crew members. Initial reports indicate that 28 individuals survived, including two children aged 11 and 16. The crash resulted in a significant fireball, with authorities confirming multiple fatalities.
Eyewitness videos captured the moment of impact, showing the aircraft descending rapidly and exploding upon hitting the ground.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the crash may have been caused by a bird strike leading to an oxygen tank explosion and subsequent steering failure. The plane had sent a distress signal and attempted an emergency landing in Aktau before crashing.
Rescue operations are ongoing, with survivors receiving treatment at a nearby hospital. The Kazakh government has initiated an investigation into the incident, collaborating with Azerbaijani authorities.
This tragic event has prompted condolences from international leaders, including Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who have expressed their sympathies and called for the swift recovery of the injured.