38 killed, 29 hospitalised in fatal Azerbaijan passenger plane crash

Thirty-eight (38) people have been confirmed dead following a tragic crash involving an Azerbaijani passenger plane near Aktau city in southwest Kazakhstan on Christmas Day.

Local authorities, who have launched an investigation, revealed that the aircraft was carrying 67 individuals—62 passengers and 5 crew members.

Reports indicate that the Embraer 190 aircraft, flight J2-8243, was en route from Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital, to Grozny in Chechnya, Russia, when it was forced to make an emergency landing in Aktau, resulting in the disaster.

Emergency rescue teams swiftly responded, saving 29 survivors, including two children, from the wreckage.

Kazakhstan’s transportation ministry stated that the passengers included 37 Azerbaijanis, 16 Russians, six Kazakhs, and three Kyrgyz nationals.

There were 37 Azerbaijan citizens on board, 23 of whom died and 14 survived. All 3 passengers from the Kyrgyz Republic survived. There were 16 citizens of Russia, 7 of whom died, and 9 survived. 6 passengers from Kazakhstan, including one schoolboy, died. The plane’s crew consisted of 5 people, 2 of whom died and 3 survived.

Azerbaijani President Responds

President Ilham Aliyev, en route to Russia for the CIS Summit, returned to Baku upon hearing the tragic news.

In a statement, he said:

This morning, I was flying from Baku to St. Petersburg to attend the CIS Summit when I was informed of this tragic incident during the flight. I immediately gave instructions for the plane to return to Baku. While still in the air, I issued the necessary directives, spoke with the Prime Minister, and initiated the formation of a commission under his leadership.

Investigation and Response

President Aliyev directed an investigation into the crash, emphasising the need for transparency.

He added:

The commission's task is to fully investigate the matter, examine the causes of the crash and all its details, and provide information both to me and to the Azerbaijani public.

A criminal investigation has also been launched by Azerbaijan’s Prosecutor General’s Office, with promises to keep the public informed as more details emerge.

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