A passenger aircraft operated by Azerbaijan Airlines crashed near Aktau Airport in Kazakhstan on Wednesday morning, resulting in fatalities and injuries. Kazakh authorities reported that the Embraer 190, flight number J2-8243, was en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, but was rerouted to Aktau due to fog in Grozny. The plane, carrying 69 people – 64 passengers and five crew members – crashed approximately two miles from the airport.
The Kazakhstan Ministry of Emergency Situations reported that 29 people survived the crash, while up to 40 are feared dead. Many survivors were hospitalized, including two children, with some in critical condition, according to the deputy health minister. The passenger manifest, based on preliminary data from the Transport Ministry, included 37 Azerbaijani citizens, six from Kazakhstan, three from Kyrgyzstan, and 16 from Russia.
Azerbaijan Airlines stated that the aircraft made an emergency landing. Kazakh aviation authorities have launched an investigation into the crash, exploring potential causes such as a bird strike, mechanical failure, and the impact of the flight rerouting due to adverse weather conditions. This is an ongoing story, and further updates will be provided as they become available.