An Azerbaijani airliner carrying 67 passengers crashed near the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan, on Wednesday, leaving over 30 feared dead. Officials confirmed 32 survivors, with 29 hospitalized and four fatalities identified.
The Embraer 190 aircraft was en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, when a bird strike reportedly caused an onboard emergency. The plane attempted an emergency landing 3 kilometers from Aktau but crashed and was engulfed in flames. Survivors were seen rescuing others from the wreckage.
The flight carried passengers from Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Both pilots are believed to have perished in the crash.
Investigations are ongoing as Azerbaijani and Kazakhstani authorities work to determine the cause. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has extended condolences to the victims’ families and pledged transparency in the investigation.
