A passenger plane operated by Azerbaijan Airlines has crashed near the city of Aktau in western Kazakhstan, with dozens feared dead. The Embraer 190 aircraft, carrying 67 people, including 5 crew members, was en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, when it went down.
Kazakhstan’s Emergency Ministry confirmed the crash in a statement, reporting that the plane attempted an emergency landing approximately two miles from Aktau. According to early reports from emergency workers at the scene, both pilots perished in the crash, as reported by Interfax news agency.
The Prosecutor General’s Office in Azerbaijan later reported that at least 32 people survived the crash, adding that the number wasn’t final. Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that some of the survivors were in critical condition, as reported by the Associated Press.
The aircraft’s flight path, as tracked by flight-tracking websites, showed it deviating from its normal route across the Caspian Sea and circling over the area where it ultimately crashed. A drone view of the crash site showed the wreckage of the Embraer 190 scattered across the terrain, as seen in images released by Reuters.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash. While details are still emerging, several potential factors will likely be examined, including weather conditions at the time of the flight, mechanical failure of the aircraft, and the actions of the flight crew, including their communication with air traffic control. Investigators will examine the aircraft’s maintenance records and the wreckage for any signs of mechanical malfunction.
