Azerbaijan Airlines has temporarily suspended all flights between Baku and Chechnya following a fatal plane crash near Aktau, Kazakhstan.
The Embraer passenger jet, carrying 62 passengers and five crew members, crashed after diverting and attempting an emergency landing on Wednesday, 25 December.
Aktau Fatal Crash
At least 38 occupants lost their lives in the crash, including the two pilots. At least 32 others survived the accident, and were referred to hospital.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Officials examining various possibilities including potential technical malfunctions and adverse weather conditions. Video footage of tailplane damage on the crashed aircraft suggests shrapnel damage.
It appears to have damaged the aircraft’s tail empennage, horizontal and vertical stabilizers. Investigations are continuing after the retrieval of the aircraft’s black boxes.
The aircraft, an Embraer 190, was en route from Baku to Grozny, the capital of Chechnya. Further specifics on the fatal crash, which occurred on Christmas Day, can be found in our report here.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev issued his condolences via a statement on social media. “It is with deep sadness that I express my condolences to the families of the victims. We wish a speedy recovery to those injured,” he wrote.
Azerbaijan Airlines Flight Suspensions
Azerbaijan Airlines, also known as AZAL, is the flag carrier and largest airline of Azerbaijan. Based in Baku, it operates scheduled and charter flights to destinations across Asia, the CIS, Europe, and the Middle East.
AZAL was founded on April 7, 1992, and has since grown into a major player in the region’s aviation industry. The airline’s fleet consists of modern Airbus and Boeing aircraft, and it is a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Azerbaijan Airlines has stated that all flights to the region will remain suspended until a thorough investigation into the crash is completed.
This incident marks a significant tragedy for Azerbaijan Airlines and has prompted heightened safety concerns regarding air travel in the region.
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