A passenger plane operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, en route to Russia, crashed near Aktau in Kazakhstan, leaving four people dead and 28 others, including three children, hospitalized, according to Kazakh health officials.
The Embraer 190 aircraft, flight J2-8243, was carrying 62 passengers and five crew members when it was forced to make an emergency landing approximately 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) from Aktau.
Crash Details
Kazakhstan’s Emergencies Ministry reported that the crash occurred after the plane requested a diversion due to heavy fog in Grozny, Russia, its intended destination. Fire services swiftly extinguished the resulting blaze.
Russia’s aviation watchdog suggested that a bird strike might have prompted the emergency landing, although authorities are investigating multiple potential causes, including technical malfunctions.
Reactions and Response
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev cut short his visit to Russia, where he was scheduled to attend a summit, following news of the crash. Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov expressed condolences, noting that many of the injured remain in critical condition and called for prayers for their recovery.
The passengers included nationals from Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, according to Al Jazeera’s Yulia Shapovalova.
Kazakhstan’s authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the crash.
