Azerbaijan Airlines has suspended all flights from Baku to the Russian republics of Chechnya and Dagestan pending the conclusion of an investigation into a fatal plane crash. Unconfirmed reports suggest the aircraft might have been downed.
Azerbaijan’s president refrains from speculation, awaiting investigation results. A passenger plane from the Azerbaijani airline crashed this morning in Aktau, western Kazakhstan, with 67 people on board, including five crew members.
The Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister reported 38 fatalities, with 29 survivors, some in critical condition. Russian state news agency Interfax reported both pilots perished.
The Embraer 190, en route from Baku to Grozny, crashed near Aktau airport. Kazakh authorities said 42 passengers were Azerbaijani, 16 Russian, 6 Kazakh, and 3 Kyrgyz.
Video footage shows the aircraft descending steeply before crashing and erupting into flames. Other footage depicts part of the fuselage detached from the wings, with the aircraft inverted on the ground.
Flight tracking data from FlightRadar24.com revealed erratic altitude changes before impact. The cause is still under investigation.
Preliminary Russian state media reports suggest a bird strike may have preceded the crash, though an aviation expert expressed doubt about this explanation. Flight data indicated a significant deviation from the planned route, with the crash occurring across the Caspian Sea.
The aircraft reportedly diverted due to bad weather in Grozny. Meanwhile, nearby regions Ingushetia and North Ossetia reported drone attacks this morning.
Reuters noted past airport closures in the region due to drone attacks, including the logical diversion site, Makhachkala airport in Dagestan, which was closed this morning without explanation from Reuters. Speculation about the plane being shot down by Russian defense systems mistaking it for a Ukrainian drone has increased after damage images were shared on social media.
President Aliyev of Azerbaijan expressed condolences to the victims’ families and addressed the circulating images, stating, “Everyone can see them. However, the crash causes are still unknown to us.
There are various theories, but I believe it’s premature to discuss them. The incident must be thoroughly investigated.”
Source: NOS