Azerbaijan Airlines Flight J2-8243, an Embraer 190, tragically crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on December 25, 2024, killing 38 of the 67 passengers and crew members on board.
. Photo: New York Post
At 7:55 AM local time, the aircraft took off from Baku, Azerbaijan, bound for Grozny, Russia. The plane was rerouted to Makhachkala, Dagestan, due to the fog at Grozny. The aircraft encountered severe GPS jamming and spoofing throughout the flight close to Grozny, which resulted in a loss of radar contact at 8:40 AM. After making a major deviation from its original flight route, it later resurfaced off the coast of Kazakhstan at 10:07 AM.
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The crew reported control system difficulties and sent out a distress signal at 9:35 AM. They asked for an emergency landing at Aktau International Airport by 9:49 AM. According to preliminary assessments, the fuselage and control systems of the aircraft were seriously damaged when it collided with a flock of birds.
The aircraft broke into two large pieces and burst into flames as it crashed at 10:28 AM close to Aktau.
Of the 67 people on board, including both pilots, 38 were declared dead, including 62 passengers and 5 staff members.
Four minors were among the passengers, who were citizens of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Azerbaijan. Eleven of the at least 29 survivors who were admitted to the hospital were in critical condition.
To find out the precise cause of the crash, an international inquiry is in progress. The influence of GPS interference, possible technological issues, and the alleged bird attack are among the factors taken into account. Russian, Azerbaijani, and Kazakh emergency response teams have been sent in to help with rescue efforts and provide assistance to the victims' relatives. Baku-Makhachkala-Baku and Baku-Grozny-Baku flights operated by Azerbaijan Airlines have been banned while the inquiry is ongoing.
Photo: New York Post
President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan sent his sincere condolences to the families of the victims and proclaimed December 26 a national day of sorrow. The airline has also conveyed its deep sadness and is fully assisting the authorities conducting the investigation.
Both the concerned countries and the global aviation community have been significantly touched by this unfortunate event. Supporting survivors and their families as well as identifying the contributing elements to this tragic incident are the key priorities of ongoing investigations.
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. Photo: New York Post
