Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 Goes Down with 69 Onboard

On December 25, 2024, an Embraer 190 passenger aircraft operated by Azerbaijan Airlines crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau. The plane was on a flight from Baku to Grozny, Russia, and was carrying 69 individuals, which included five crew members. According to Kazakhstan's Ministry of Emergency Situations, there were 32 survivors from the crash, and among them were two children who were promptly taken to the hospital.

The Chinese Consulate General in Aktobe has verified that no Chinese nationals were on the flight, and both the Chinese Embassy in Kazakhstan and its counterparts in Azerbaijan have activated their emergency response procedures. Preliminary reports indicate that passengers were also from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia. In response to the tragedy, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has mandated a state commission led by Vice Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev to investigate the matter.

Initial findings from the Federal Agency for Air Transport of the Russian Federation suggest that the plane may have collided with a flock of birds, leading the pilot to attempt an emergency landing at Aktau after being unable to land in Grozny due to fog. Following the incident, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev decided to return to Baku from a summit in Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences to Aliyev, while global leaders including Pakistan’s Prime Minister and Turkey’s Foreign Ministry also extended their sympathies and support.

Azerbaijan Airlines has committed to providing additional information regarding the flight, and local authorities along with emergency services are actively investigating the cause of the crash.