The tragic crash of an Azerbaijani plane carrying 67 people near the Kazakh city of Aktau has left a provisional death toll of 32, according to authorities. More than 30 passengers are sadly feared dead.
Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations reported that 29 passengers were hospitalized, and four bodies have been recovered so far. Both pilots are believed to have died in the crash.
The Embraer 190 made an emergency landing 3km from Aktau after a bird strike caused an emergency on board. Footage from the crash site showed the wreckage burning, as survivors struggled to rescue the trapped victims.
The flight departed from Baku, Azerbaijan, bound for Grozny, Russia, carrying passengers from Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
Investigations are ongoing, with the cooperation of the Azerbaijani and Kazakh authorities, to determine the causes of the accident. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and promised to provide updates as the investigation progresses.
This tragic event is a reminder of the fragility of human life and underlines the importance of safety in air transport. Our thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones, in the hope that the circumstances of this tragedy will be clarified in order to prevent a similar tragedy from happening again.