A tragic plane crash near Aktau has left 42 feared dead and 28 survivors. The Azerbaijan Airlines flight reportedly suffered an oxygen tank explosion, veered off course, and crashed into a fireball. Investigators are working to uncover the full sequence of events.
BY PC Bureau
An oxygen tank explosion is now being cited as a potential factor in the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet in western Kazakhstan on Wednesday. Kazakh media reports indicate that passengers began losing consciousness moments before the Embraer 190 aircraft, carrying 67 people, veered off its route and crashed near Aktau.
Kazakh authorities confirmed that 28 people survived the disaster, which has left 42 others feared dead. The flight, en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, ended in tragedy just 3 kilometers from its intended emergency landing site. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev cut short his visit to Russia, where he was attending a summit, to address the crisis.
The Kazakh transport ministry confirmed the incident via Telegram, stating, “A plane doing the Baku-Grozny route crashed near the city of Aktau. It belongs to Azerbaijan Airlines.” The airline, Azerbaijan’s flag carrier, reported that the aircraft carried 62 passengers and five crew members.
Video from crash site of AZAL plane in Aktau#Akatu #kazakistan pic.twitter.com/oR4SaLiHhA
— ℂ𝕙𝕖 𝔾𝕦𝕖𝕧𝕒𝕣𝕒 ★ (@cheguwera) December 25, 2024
A harrowing video of the crash has surfaced online, showing the aircraft nosediving before bursting into flames upon impact. The fiery wreckage scattered across the crash site, with parts of the fuselage torn away. Social media footage revealed survivors aiding injured passengers, even as thick black smoke billowed from the debris.
Flight tracking data adds to the grim picture, showing erratic altitude changes in the final minutes before impact. According to FlightRadar24, the aircraft faced “strong GPS jamming,” potentially disrupting its navigation systems. Russia has been implicated in similar GPS disruptions in the region in the past.
Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer ERJ-190AR (4K-AZ65) passenger plane traveling from Baku to Grozny crashes near Aktau, Kazakhstan earlier today. There were 72 occupants including five crew members.
Six survivors are in critical condition. Pending any official confirmation,… pic.twitter.com/cjRzOrPzQ8
— FL360aero (@fl360aero) December 25, 2024
The Embraer ERJ-190, a reliable short- to medium-haul jet, is manufactured by a Brazilian company and can carry 96 to 114 passengers. Despite its reputation for reliability, this particular flight issued an emergency distress signal while flying over the Caspian Sea. Investigators are now piecing together the events leading to the crash, focusing on the oxygen tank explosion, potential technical failures, and GPS interference as possible contributing factors.
