Near Aktau Airport in Kazakhstan, an Azerbaijan Airlines plane has tragically crashed. The aircraft held 67 passengers and 5 crew members. Russian news agencies reported the incident, revealing that Kazakhstan's Emergency Ministry stated the Azerbaijan plane was en route from Baku to Grozny. Before the crash, the aircraft circled the airport multiple times. Reports suggest 25 people survived, while 42 others perished.
Grozny is located in Russia's Chechnya region, but due to fog, the plane was diverted towards Grozny. The Tengrinews portal confirmed the incident. Some Twitter accounts report the passenger count was 105, mostly Azerbaijani and Russian citizens. Social media buzzes with information that a few passengers survived the catastrophe.
Azerbaijan Airlines noted that the ill-fated plane was an Embraer 190, identified as J2-8243. It was forced to make an emergency landing on the Baku to Grozny route. The aircraft crashed while attempting an emergency landing three kilometers from Aktau. Further updates will be provided.
According to Russian News Agency TASS, the plane was traveling from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia. The Chechnya airport indicated that due to fog, it was diverted towards Makhachkala. Kazakhstan's rescue efforts involve 52 firefighters and 11 fire services. An operational headquarters has been established at the crash site.
