On the morning of this Wednesday, an Embraer E190AR (c/n 4K-AZ65) belonging to the airline Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) crashed during an emergency landing attempt at the alternate airport of Aktau (UATE/SCO) in Kazakhstan.
+ Click here to watch the video of the crash
The aircraft was operating flight J2 8243, which departed from Baku to Grozny, when it encountered technical issues that led to the tragic incident.
+ Everything About the Embraer E190: The Jet Involved in the Crash in Kazakhstan
Technical issues and diversion decision
At 05:49 UTC, the crew issued a distress signal, reporting a failure in the aircraft’s control system. Given the severity of the situation, the pilots decided to divert the flight to Aktau airport, the nearest alternate airfield. There were 72 people on board, including 67 passengers and 5 crew members.
Possible cause: bird strike
In an official statement, Azerbaijan Airlines indicated that the cause of the accident might have been a bird strike, a hypothesis still under investigation by aviation authorities. Such collisions can damage critical components like engines or control systems.
Survivors and medical assistance
According to the latest reports, 12 survivors were rescued and taken to hospitals in Aktau for medical treatment. Initially, the Kazakh Minister of Health reported that only six people had survived, but the number was later revised. The health conditions of the injured are still being evaluated.
+ Watch more videos of air accidents
An extended video shared on social media shows the critical moments of the crash, highlighting the severity of the accident and the challenges faced by the crew.
Source and images: Telegram @AviaCT / flightradar24. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
