38 Dead as Azerbaijan Airlines Jet Crashes in Kazakhstan

ASTANA: A devastating tragedy struck on Wednesday when an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet crashed near Aktau in western Kazakhstan, claiming the lives of 38 individuals. The Embraer 190 aircraft, carrying 67 people, had deviated from its intended flight path from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Chechnya, and crashed approximately three kilometers from Aktau, an oil and gas hub along the Caspian Sea's eastern shores.

Flight tracking data showed the aircraft straying off course and circling over the crash area before its fateful descent. "The situation is not very good, 38 dead," Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev told Russian media. Azerbaijan Airlines confirmed there were 62 passengers and five crew members aboard. Survivors included 28 individuals, two of them children, who have been hospitalized, according to the Kazakh emergency situations ministry.

The victims hailed from multiple nations: 37 Azerbaijanis, six Kazakhs, three Kyrgyz, and 16 Russians. Kazakhstan’s transport ministry said the incident is under investigation, while Azerbaijan Airlines described the crash as an "emergency landing." Rescue teams extinguished a fire at the site and deployed 150 emergency workers to the scene. Specialist doctors were flown from Astana to provide urgent medical care to the survivors.

Azerbaijan Declares Mourning and Launches Investigation

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev declared Thursday a national day of mourning to honor the victims. He canceled his attendance at the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit in Russia and ordered a swift investigation into the crash. "I extend my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wish a speedy recovery to the injured," Aliyev said in a heartfelt statement on social media.

A team led by Azerbaijan’s deputy prosecutor general was dispatched to Kazakhstan to examine the wreckage and assess potential causes of the crash. “All possible scenarios are being investigated, and expert analyses are underway,” read a statement from Azerbaijan’s prosecutor general’s office.

Condolences Pour In

Global leaders and dignitaries expressed their sorrow over the tragedy. Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif offered condolences to President Aliyev and the Azerbaijani people, expressing solidarity with the grieving nation. Russian President Vladimir Putin conveyed his sympathies during a phone call with Aliyev and sent a Russian emergency team with medical personnel to assist in Aktau.

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov and Azerbaijan’s first vice president Mehriban Aliyeva also mourned the loss of lives. “I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims. Wishing them strength and patience! I also wish a speedy recovery to the injured,” Aliyeva wrote on Instagram.

Emergency Response

The Kazakh emergency ministry confirmed that rescue operations were swift, with a robust team battling the aftermath of the crash. Efforts were made to support the survivors, including transferring them to specialized hospitals. Medical experts equipped with advanced treatment tools were flown in to ensure that all injured passengers received optimal care.

The tragic crash has left the international community in shock, as investigators work tirelessly to determine the cause. This accident serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of air travel and the critical importance of aviation safety.