Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer ERJ-190, Crashed in Kazakhstan.
An Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer ERJ-190, operating as flight J2-8243 from Baku to Grozny, crashed near Aktau Airport in Kazakhstan. Twenty-five passengers emerged from the wreckage, their lives hanging by a thread as they were rushed to the hospital, five of them clinging to hope in intensive care.
The incident occurred after the flight was diverted due to heavy fog in Grozny. Reports indicate that the plane was en route from Baku when it encountered issues, including GPS jamming and altitude fluctuations, before making an emergency landing attempt approximately 3km from Aktau, an oil and gas hub on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea.
The preliminary investigation points to a collision with a flock of birds as a potential cause, yet other issues like GPS jamming and technical malfunctions are also under scrutiny. In response, emergency services, comprising over 150 personnel and extensive equipment, rushed to the scene. A fire erupted but was eventually brought under control. Both Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan have pledged to collaborate on the investigation.
This heartbreaking incident has prompted swift action from authorities in both nations, leading to the establishment of a government commission in Kazakhstan to delve into the crash. Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev cut short his visit to address the unfolding crisis. In a somber gesture, Azerbaijan Airlines altered its social media banners to black, vowing to keep the public informed as the situation develops.