On December 25, 2024, Azerbaijan plunged into mourning after a devastating plane crash in Kazakhstan claimed the lives of 38 people aboard an Azerbaijan Airlines flight. The tragic incident occurred when an Embraer 190 aircraft, carrying 67 passengers and crew members, veered off its planned route and crashed near the city of Aktau on Christmas Day.
The flight, originally headed from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, deviated unexpectedly, crossing the Caspian Sea before crashing. Though investigations are still underway, aviation experts have raised concerns about the possibility of the plane being struck by Russian air defense systems, as it flew through an area with reported Ukrainian drone activity. Despite the speculation, officials have urged the public to await the official investigation’s findings.
Among the 67 people on board, 38 tragically lost their lives, while 29 survivors, including three children, were rushed to local hospitals, with 11 in critical condition. Azerbaijan’s national grief was palpable, with President Ilham Aliyev declaring a day of mourning and expressing heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families.
The crash site was attended by emergency responders who worked tirelessly to extinguish a fire caused by the crash. A local witness, Elmira, who arrived at the scene to assist survivors, described the horrific scenes, with survivors calling for help and desperately pleading for loved ones to be rescued.
The entire nation of Azerbaijan stands united in grief, as the investigation continues and the memories of those lost remain fresh in the hearts of all who mourn their passing.
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