- An Azerbaijan Airlines flight crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, killing 38 people.
- The plane caught fire during an emergency landing, with the cause of the crash still under investigation.
- The crash led to a nationwide day of mourning in Azerbaijan and a large-scale rescue operation.
- Both Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have launched investigations into the incident, with the aircraft’s manufacturer ready to assist.
In a tragic turn of events, an Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243 crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau, resulting in the death of 38 people. The plane was carrying 67 passengers, including crew members, and was en route to Grozny in Russia. However, due to foggy conditions, the flight was diverted. The airline confirmed that the plane made an emergency landing about 3km (1.9 miles) from Aktau. The aircraft took off from the Azerbaijani capital Baku at 03:55 GMT on Wednesday and crashed around 06:28, as per data from flight-tracking website Flightradar24.
The plane caught fire as it attempted to make an emergency landing. Footage shows the aircraft heading towards the ground at high speed with its landing gear down, before bursting into flames as it lands. The plane’s flight data recorder has been recovered, officials say. Those on board were mostly Azerbaijani nationals, but there were also some passengers from Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
Unconfirmed reports from Russian media suggested that the aircraft might have collided with a flock of birds before crashing. However, Azerbaijan’s prosecutor general stated that all possible scenarios were being examined and President Ilham Aliyev said it was too early to say anything definitive.
Investigations and Speculations
The crash has sparked speculation online, with some suggesting that damage visible in footage, described as shrapnel from air-defense systems, could have been the cause of the crash. However, the Kremlin stated that it would not put forward hypotheses about the cause of the crash until the investigation was finished.
The incident has led to a nationwide day of mourning in Azerbaijan for the victims of the crash. National flags were lowered across the country, and a nationwide moment of silence was observed. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated that it was too soon to speculate on the reasons behind the crash, but noted that the weather had forced the plane to change from its planned course.
The crash has also led to a sprawling rescue operation, with 29 survivors, including two children, being pulled from the wreckage. Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev stated that 11 of the survivors were in critical condition. The bodies of the deceased were in poor condition, mostly burnt, and were collected for identification.
Impact on Survivors and Their Families
The crash has left a deep impact on the survivors and their families. A young woman shared her heartache with the BBC’s Azerbaijani service as she tried to find out what happened to her father, who was on the flight. She explained that her father had been travelling with his son, who survived the crash. The son managed to contact his sister, but there was still no news of their father.
Both Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have launched investigations into the incident. Embraer, the Brazilian manufacturer of the aircraft, stated that it was ready to assist all relevant authorities. The BBC has contacted Azerbaijan Airlines for comment.
In a similar incident in the past, human error was identified as the primary cause of a deadly collision at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. The incident occurred when a Japan Airlines passenger plane arriving from New Chitose Airport in Sapporo collided with a Japan Coast Guard plane waiting on the runway. The Coast Guard pilot mistakenly believed he had clearance to enter the runway, leading to the fatal collision.
The tragic crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines flight serves as a stark reminder of the risks involved in air travel. As investigations continue, it is hoped that the cause of the crash can be determined, providing closure for the victims’ families and potentially preventing similar incidents in the future.