A tragic crash involving an Azerbaijani passenger plane near Aktau city in southwest Kazakhstan on Christmas Day has left thirty-eight individuals dead. The aircraft, carrying 67 individuals—62 passengers and 5 crew members, was en route from Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital, to Grozny in Chechnya, Russia, when it was forced to make an emergency landing in Aktau, resulting in the disaster.
Emergency rescue teams were quick to respond, saving 29 survivors, including two children, from the wreckage. Kazakhstan’s transportation ministry revealed that the passengers included 37 Azerbaijanis, 16 Russians, six Kazakhs, and three Kyrgyz nationals.
President Ilham Aliyev, who was en route to Russia for the CIS Summit, returned to Baku upon hearing the tragic news. He expressed his condolences and ordered an investigation into the crash, emphasizing the need for transparency. The President stated that a commission would be formed to fully investigate the incident, examine the causes of the crash, and provide information to the Azerbaijani public.
A criminal investigation has also been launched by Azerbaijan’s Prosecutor General’s Office to further investigate the crash. Updates and developments on the investigation will be shared with the public as more details emerge.
The tragic incident has deeply impacted the families and loved ones of those involved, as well as the nations of Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families during this difficult time.
