Thursday has been declared a national day of mourning in Azerbaijan as officials investigate the tragic crash of an airplane carrying 67 individuals on Christmas Day in Kazakhstan, resulting in 38 fatalities and leaving at least 29 survivors.
CNN released video footage showcasing the plane as it crash-landed, erupting into flames and clouds of black smoke.
Here’s a summary of the catastrophic incident and the current understanding of its potential causes.
The Victims
Onboard the Azerbaijan Airlines’ Embraer-operated flight 190 were 37 Azerbaijani citizens, 16 Russians, six Kazakh nationals, and three citizens from Kyrgyzstan, as reported by the New York Times. The flight was en route from Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital, to Grozny, Russia, when it tragically crashed during an emergency landing attempt at Aktau airport in Kazakhstan.
Among the survivors, there were two young children.
Images of the wreckage shared by the Russian state news agency Ria Novosti depict passengers on the ground, while some appeared to walk away from the debris.
Additional footage recorded by bystanders shows individuals helping one another escape from the wreckage.
The Cause of the Crash
The precise cause of the crash remains unclear at this time.
Initially, Russia’s aviation authority speculated that a collision with birds may have contributed to the accident. There were also indications that the aircraft encountered heavy fog and altered its route mid-flight due to deteriorating weather, though it is uncertain how significant these factors were in the crash, as reported by the AP.
“The information I have received indicates that the aircraft changed course between Baku and Grozny due to worsening weather conditions, diverting to Aktau airport, where it ultimately crashed upon landing,” stated Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Wednesday.
On Thursday, Reuters revealed that investigators are exploring the possibility that the aircraft may have been inadvertently downed by Russian air defense systems, based on insights from four unnamed sources familiar with Azerbaijan’s initial investigation findings. Nearly three years into the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Russian air defense systems frequently react to Ukrainian drones targeting locations in southern Russia. While Russian authorities haven’t confirmed this theory, President Vladimir Putin has dispatched emergency response teams to the crash site.
Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for Putin, mentioned on Thursday that “it would be inappropriate to draw any conclusions before the investigation reaches its findings,” emphasizing that “no one should rush to judgment.”
In light of the tragedy, Azerbaijan has halted all flights between Baku and Grozny until the official cause of the crash can be determined.
