29 Survivors, 38 Dead in Kazakhstan Plane Crash, Officials Report

A plane crash in Kazakhstan has left 38 people dead and 29 survivors, according to officials. The incident, which occurred recently, has caused widespread shock and grief. Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash, while the survivors are being treated for injuries. The tragic event has sparked global attention and raised concerns over air safety in the region.

An aircraft, carrying 62 passengers and five crew members, was en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Chechnya, when it tragically crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan. The flight, operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, went off course, and 38 of the people onboard lost their lives. However, 29 individuals survived the crash, with some of them suffering serious injuries. The survivors, including two children, were immediately taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Some were reported to be in critical condition, according to the Azerbaijan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Early reports indicated that both pilots perished in the crash, although further investigations are underway.

Footage from the crash site showed the plane bursting into flames as it struck the ground, followed by large plumes of thick black smoke rising into the air. In the aftermath of the crash, more than 50 emergency responders arrived to manage the situation, and the fire was quickly brought under control. The crash occurred hundreds of miles off the aircraft's intended flight path, on the opposite side of the Caspian Sea. Preliminary reports from Russia’s aviation authorities suggested that the emergency may have been caused by a bird strike, though this has not been confirmed.

The reason for the aircraft’s deviation from its route remains unclear, though some speculated that the crash could be connected to recent drone strikes in southern Russia. It was noted that the nearest Russian airport to the flight path had been closed on the morning of the crash. The incident occurred shortly after reports of increased drone activity in the area. Kazakh authorities later found the aircraft's black box, which will provide essential data to help determine the cause of the crash.

Reports indicate that the aircraft was rerouted due to fog in Grozny, which was the original destination. The plane was supposed to land there, but instead, it diverted toward Aktau, a major oil and gas hub. Azerbaijan Airlines confirmed that the plane, an Embraer 190, made an emergency landing near the city of Aktau, just about two miles from the crash site. The airline expressed deep condolences to the families of the victims, stating their sorrow on social media and confirming the nationalities of those onboard. The passengers included citizens from Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.

In response to the tragedy, Azerbaijan’s prosecutor general's office launched a criminal investigation, while Kazakhstan set up a government commission to investigate the crash. The commission is working with Azerbaijan's authorities, and experts are being flown to the scene to ensure the families of the victims receive support. Authorities also refuted earlier reports that suggested children were on the flight, confirming that all passengers were adults.

Footage circulating on social media showed the aircraft making a steep descent before hitting the ground. Other videos revealed part of the fuselage detached from the rest of the aircraft, which was found upside down in the grass. Some media outlets speculated that the plane could have been shot down by Russian air defenses, with reports indicating the presence of damage that resembled shelling or shrapnel from an explosion. However, this has not been verified, and it remains a point of conjecture.

In addition to the erratic descent, flight tracking data indicated that the aircraft was experiencing significant GPS jamming, which made the tracking data unreliable in the final moments before the crash. This kind of interference has been attributed to Russian actions in the region in the past, leading to further questions regarding the cause of the incident.

Following the crash, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, cut short his visit to Russia, where he was attending a summit of former Soviet nations. He returned to Azerbaijan to oversee the situation, and a national day of mourning was declared for December 26. President Aliyev expressed his condolences to the families of the victims, offering prayers for their strength and resilience. In Russia, President Vladimir Putin also reached out to President Aliyev to offer his sympathies, and Russian leaders expressed deep sorrow for the tragedy. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan’s First Lady, Mehriban Aliyeva, conveyed her grief over the loss of lives and extended heartfelt condolences to the victims' families.

Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of Chechnya, also expressed his condolences, mentioning that some of the survivors were in critical condition and that he and others would be praying for their recovery.

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Source: theguardian‍