Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243 crash-landed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, after veering off course during an emergency. Survivor footage reveals the chaos inside the cabin as authorities investigate possible causes, including a bird strike and nearby drone activity.
BY PC Bureau
On Wednesday, a survivor of the Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243 crash managed to capture footage from inside the cabin, offering a glimpse into the chaotic aftermath. The Embraer 190 jet, carrying 62 passengers and five crew members, went down near Aktau, Kazakhstan, after straying hundreds of miles off its intended route.
Kazakhstan: A passenger captured the final moments before an Azerbaijan plane crash on camera.
The Footage shows him praying, and he miraculously survived.#Azerbaijan pic.twitter.com/hNJIdOklKP
— هارون خان (@iamharunkhan) December 25, 2024
🇰🇿🚨‼️ PLANE CRASH: Multiple people stood up and walked away after the plane crash!
Crazy footage. pic.twitter.com/kIoKiZ4Bim
— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) December 25, 2024
Survivors and Casualties
Kazakh authorities confirmed that 32 individuals survived the crash and were rescued from the site. Among them were two children, now receiving medical care at a nearby hospital. Efforts are ongoing to recover the bodies of the deceased.
Emergency Landing and Possible Bird Strike
The flight, originally scheduled to travel from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Chechnya, encountered an emergency that prompted the pilot to attempt an unscheduled landing approximately 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) from Aktau. Russia’s aviation watchdog suggested a bird strike might have triggered the incident. Reports suggest that just before the landing, the Oxygen tank of the plane exploded.
Dramatic Footage and Eyewitness Accounts
Footage captured by a passenger showed the plane’s cabin moments after the crash, with smoke filling the air and survivors struggling to escape the wreckage. External video revealed the aircraft plummeting sharply before erupting into flames upon impact on the Caspian Sea’s eastern shore. Thick black smoke rose as passengers stumbled away from the debris.
Suspensions and Investigations
In the wake of the tragedy, Azerbaijan Airlines suspended all flights from Baku to Chechnya pending the investigation’s outcome. Officials are examining why the plane crossed the Caspian Sea, far from its intended path.
The crash occurred shortly after drone strikes targeted southern Russia, leading to temporary airport closures in the region. Makhachkala airport, near the flight’s last recorded position, was shut down for several hours, and attempts to reach Grozny airport officials were unsuccessful.
Kazakhstan’s Response
Kazakhstan’s emergencies ministry confirmed fire services extinguished the blaze and announced the formation of a government commission to investigate the crash. Officials pledged close collaboration with Azerbaijan to uncover the causes and provide support to victims’ families.
As the investigation unfolds, questions remain about the flight’s deviation and the circumstances surrounding its emergency. The tragedy highlights the risks faced by aviation in regions experiencing geopolitical and environmental challenges.
