Thursday has been announced as a national day of mourning in Azerbaijan as authorities look into the devastating plane crash that occurred on Christmas Day in Kazakhstan. The incident involved an aircraft carrying 67 people, resulting in 38 fatalities and leaving at least 29 individuals alive.
CNN has released video footage that captures the moment the plane crash-landed, engulfed in flames and thick black smoke.
Here’s an overview of the tragic event and what is currently understood about its possible causes.
The Victims
The Azerbaijan Airlines flight 190, operated by Embraer, was carrying 37 Azerbaijani citizens, 16 Russians, six Kazakhs, and three individuals from Kyrgyzstan, as reported by the New York Times. The flight was on its way from Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, when it tragically crashed while attempting an emergency landing at Aktau airport in Kazakhstan.
Among the survivors, there were two young children.
Images of the wreckage released by Russian state news agency Ria Novosti show passengers on the ground, with some appearing to escape the debris.
Bystanders also captured footage of individuals assisting each other in fleeing from the wreckage.
The Cause of the Crash
The exact cause of the crash remains uncertain at this stage.
Initially, Russia’s aviation authority suggested that a bird strike might have played a role in the incident. There were also reports indicating that the aircraft faced heavy fog and altered its flight path due to worsening weather conditions, although the impact of these factors on the crash is still unclear, according to the AP.
“The information I’ve received suggests that the plane changed its route between Baku and Grozny because of deteriorating weather, diverting to Aktau airport, where it ultimately crashed on landing,” Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated on Wednesday.
On Thursday, Reuters reported that investigators are considering the possibility that Russian air defense systems could have inadvertently brought down the aircraft. This information comes from four unnamed sources who are familiar with the initial findings of Azerbaijan’s investigation. In the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Russian air defense systems often react to Ukrainian drones targeting areas in southern Russia. While Russian officials have not confirmed this theory, President Vladimir Putin has sent emergency response teams to the crash site.
Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for Putin, remarked on Thursday that “it would be premature to draw any conclusions before the investigation concludes,” stressing that “no one should rush to judgment.”
In response to the tragedy, Azerbaijan has suspended all flights between Baku and Grozny until the official cause of the crash is established.
