Azerbaijan observes a national day of mourning following a Christmas Day plane crash in Kazakhstan. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the accident, which involved an aircraft carrying 67 passengers. The crash resulted in 38 fatalities, with 29 survivors.
CNN video footage depicts the plane’s crash landing, subsequent explosion, and resulting fire and smoke.
Here’s a summary of the incident and updates on potential causes.
The victims
Passengers aboard Azerbaijan Airlines’ Embraer flight 190 comprised 37 Azerbaijani citizens, 16 Russians, six Kazakhs, and three Kyrgyz citizens, according to the New York Times. The flight originated from Baku and was en route to Grozny, Russia, when it crashed during an emergency landing attempt at Aktau airport in Kazakhstan.
Two children were among the 29 survivors.
Images of the wreckage, released by Ria Novosti, show some passengers on the ground, while others walked away from the debris.
Some mobile phone videos show passengers assisting each other from the wreckage.
The cause of the crash
The exact cause remains undetermined.
Russia’s aviation authority initially suggested a bird strike as a possible contributing factor. Reports also mentioned significant fog and a mid-flight course change due to deteriorating weather; however, the impact of these factors remains unclear, according to the AP.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated on Wednesday that the plane altered its course between Baku and Grozny due to worsening weather conditions, diverting to Aktau airport before the crash.
On Thursday, Reuters reported that investigators are exploring whether accidental engagement by Russian air defense systems played a role, citing interviews with four anonymous sources familiar with the preliminary findings. Given the ongoing conflict, these systems are frequently targeted by Ukrainian drones operating in southern Russia. While Russian authorities haven’t confirmed this, President Vladimir Putin dispatched emergency personnel to the site.
Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for Putin, stated on Thursday that speculating before the investigation concludes would be premature.
Azerbaijan has suspended flights between Baku and Grozny pending the investigation’s conclusion.