An Azerbaijan Airlines flight en route from Baku to Grozny tragically crashed in Kazakhstan on Christmas Day.
Only 25 people survived, with 22 of them hospitalized and many in critical condition. The rest were pronounced dead at the scene.
According to Kazakhstan’s Emergencies Ministry, the crash occurred near the city of Aktau during the flight’s journey from Azerbaijan to Chechnya, Russia.
“There were 67 people on board the plane, including five crew members,” the statement read.
“The information about those injured is being clarified. According to preliminary data, there are 25 survivors. Twenty-two have been taken to a hospital.”
Reports from Russian media suggest that the aircraft may have been struck by a flock of birds before crashing, although this has not been confirmed.
Meanwhile, an airline spokesperson told the BBC that the plane had been diverted due to fog.
Footage of the crash and its aftermath circulated across social media.
WARNING: DISTRESSING IMAGES
The lucky ones.
Survivors of Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash in Kazakhstan coming out from the wreckage. pic.twitter.com/YRWqwKAReW
— Islam (@IslamAQFJ) December 25, 2024
This video shows what happened in the minutes before the plane crash in Kazakhstan. The plane repeatedly went up and down before crashing. pic.twitter.com/dQ0H1c9R0R
— BNO News Live (@BNODesk) December 25, 2024
FLIGHT CRASH
– Complete video of plane crash of Azerbaijan Airlines Flight no J28243 Embraer ERJ190 Reg No. 4K-AZ65 Flying from Baku(GYD) to Grozny(GRV) Crashed at Aktau, Kazakhstan#planecrash #Aktau #Azerbaijanairlines #KazakhstanPlaneCrash #Kazakistan #J28243 pic.twitter.com/bbGS7ckRwY
— Parikh Vedant (@ParikhVedant3) December 25, 2024
The passengers on board were primarily Azerbaijani citizens, although some Russian, Kazakhs, and Kyrgyz nationals were also among them.
“Today is a tragic day for AZAL,” the airline said on social media.
“We extend our deepest condolences with profound sorrow to the families and loved ones of the passengers and crew members who lost their lives in the crash of the Embraer-190 aircraft near the city of Aktau.”
Bu gün AZAL üçün son dərəcə ağır və faciəli bir gündür. Aktau şəhəri yaxınlığında “Embraer-190” təyyarəsinin qəzaya uğraması nəticəsində həyatını itirən sərnişinlərə və ekipaj üzvlərinə Allahdan rəhmət diləyir, ailələrinə, yaxınlarına dərin hüznlə başsağlığı veririk. Onların… pic.twitter.com/8OTf3F67KE
— AZAL – Azerbaijan Airlines (@azalofficial) December 25, 2024
The airline added that all flights between Baku and the Russian cities of Grozny and Makhachkala would be suspended until the investigation into the crash is concluded.
Ben Kew is a writer and editor. Originally from the UK, he moved to the U.S. to cover Congress for Breitbart News and has since gone on to editorial roles at Human Events, Townhall Media, and Americano Media. He has also written for The Epoch Times, The Western Journal, and The Spectator.
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