What Happened Over Russia? Probe Into Fatal AZAL Crash in Kazakhstan Begins

Investigators into the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane in Kazakhstan that killed 38 people are trying to determine what caused the aircraft to divert from its planned landing in Grozny, the capital of Russia-controlled Chechnya. The Embraer 190 passenger plane, which was carrying 62 passengers and five crewmembers, crashed on Wednesday three kilometers from the airport at Aktau, a city on the Caspian Sea in southwestern Kazakhstan. The plane had been heading from the Azerbaijani capital of Baku to Grozny, but eventually declared an emergency and headed to Aktau, about 440 kilometers to the east and across the Caspian, for reasons that have yet to be clarified. “Even a preliminary cause cannot be established because there are specialists for that. They will carry out their work. Only after that it will be clear. I can't say anything at this point,” said Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev, according to the state Kazinform news agency. “I saw what people posted... While it was falling to the ground, it was flipping over, many things could have happened. Therefore, I am far from making any conclusions.” Russia’s state-run news agency Tass initially reported that fog in Grozny caused Flight J28243 to divert to Makhachkala, the capital of the Russian territory of Dagestan, and then to Aktau. RIA Novosti, another Russian state-owned media outlet, cited Russian aviation authorities as saying the plane diverted because of a collision with birds. However, some aviation and military analysts have paid particular attention to a video showing numerous small holes on part of the fuselage wreckage, and there is speculation that air defense systems may have fired on the plane; Chechen officials have reported shooting down drones from Ukraine, which is at war with Russia. Bozumbayev, the Kazakh minister, was asked about the possibility that the aircraft was fired on, and said that final results of the investigation will be announced after all evidence is examined, reported the Azeri Press Agency, or APA. The prosecutor general’s office in Kazakhstan has opened a criminal case and the country’s chief transport prosecutor visited the scene as a member of a government commission. Kazakh media reported that the flight recorder had been found. Video and images released by Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations showed rescue teams converging in vehicles and on foot on the flaming plane wreckage in a flat expanse of land near Aktau. One vehicle trained a water hose on the flames. Debris from the plane was scattered in the area. Emergency responders were able to pull survivors from the crumpled, partly intact fuselage. Some video appearing on social media showed a survivor limping out of the wreckage while another passenger who had been rescued was unable to walk because of apparent leg injuries. Another unverified video also shows a passenger purportedly praying on the plane in the minutes before the crash. News of the crash came as Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted a meeting in St. Petersburg for leaders of the Commonwealth of Independent States, a regional...

Dozens Survive Azerbaijan Airlines Plane Crash in Kazakhstan

A passenger plane from Azerbaijan Airlines has crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, while en route from Baku to Grozny in Chechnya. Authorities and locals were left shaken but relieved as more than 30 people survived the incident. The aircraft was carrying 62 passengers and five crew members. The accident occurred during an emergency landing attempt after the plane experienced difficulties mid-flight. Initial investigations point to potential mechanical failure as the cause. Emergency response teams were quickly dispatched to the scene, providing medical aid to the injured. Survivors suffered injuries ranging from minor cuts to more serious trauma, with ongoing efforts to transfer them to nearby hospitals for further treatment. Eyewitnesses described the crash site as alarming, with significant damage to the plane’s fuselage and debris strewn across the area. “It’s incredible that so many made it out alive,” shared a local who assisted in the rescue efforts. Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations praised the actions of first responders for minimizing casualties. Rescue and recovery operations continue, with the crash site cordoned off to aid the investigation. Azerbaijan Airlines, meanwhile, has activated its crisis management plan, collaborating with Kazakh authorities to assist passengers and their families. “We are deeply relieved that lives were spared, and we fully support ongoing inquiries into this tragedy,” said a spokesperson for the airline. The Civil Aviation Committee in Kazakhstan announced plans for a detailed investigation, beginning with the retrieval and analysis of the plane’s black box. Azerbaijan Airlines has also temporarily grounded similar aircraft as a precautionary measure. The accident has led to renewed attention on air safety protocols in the region, underscoring the critical need for stringent maintenance and monitoring. At the same time, the survival of so many passengers has been regarded as extraordinary, with their accounts serving as a reminder of resilience and the importance of emergency readiness. [caption id="attachment_26965" align="aligncenter" width="465"] Image: VK Tula News Feed[/caption] Online footage from the Azerbaijani airline AZAL crash site reveals damage to the fuselage which certain reports have stated appears consistent with the impact patterns of air defense missile shrapnel. The veracity of these reports have yet to be verified. The authorities are expected to provide further updates on the investigation and the conditions of the injured in the coming days.