Azerbaijan Plane Crash: Passenger Records Final Moments
An Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashed in Kazakhstan on December 25, 2024, killing at least 38 people, with 29 survivors rescued, as investigations into the cause continue.
On December 25, 2024, an Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashed near the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan, killing at least 38 people on board. The flight, which was heading from Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku, to Grozny in Russia's Chechnya region, had 62 passengers and 5 crew members, though some reports say there were 67 passengers.
The plane was making an emergency landing when the crash occurred. Several news reports state that 42 people have died. However, rescue teams managed to save 29 survivors, including two children. Eleven of the survivors are in critical condition.
In a heartbreaking moment, a passenger filmed the last moments of the plane before it crashed. In the video, the person can be heard saying "Allahu Akbar" (God is great) as the plane began to descend quickly. Oxygen masks were seen hanging from the seats, and the sounds of crying and screaming could be heard.
Another video, filmed after the crash, showed the plane’s ceiling panel turned upside down, with people crying for help. Blood stains were visible on some seats, and one person was seen bleeding from the head.
The plane's crash was also caught on video, showing the aircraft bursting into flames upon hitting the ground, with thick black smoke rising from the wreckage.
One woman, who helped in the rescue operation, described the scene as devastating. She said that the front part of the plane was on fire and that the survivors, covered in blood, were crying and asking for help. A little girl was seen begging the woman to save her mother, who was still inside the plane.
The woman, along with others, helped the survivors to a nearby bus to keep them warm in the cold weather. They stayed there until ambulances arrived.
Reports suggest the plane was diverted because of fog in Grozny. The aircraft's flight path on radar showed it veering away from its normal route, crossing the Caspian Sea, and eventually circling over the area where it crashed.
The exact cause of the crash is still under investigation. Some reports suggest a bird strike may have forced the pilot to make an emergency landing. Russia's aviation watchdog has confirmed the investigation is ongoing. The plane's black box has been found, and experts will examine it to understand what caused the crash.
The government of Kazakhstan has set up a commission to investigate the crash and support the victims' families. They are working with the Azerbaijani government on the investigation.
In response to the tragedy, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev declared December 26, 2024, as a national day of mourning. Russian President Vladimir Putin also expressed his condolences and sent emergency teams to Aktau with medical help and equipment.
Azerbaijan Airlines has decided to suspend all flights from Baku to the Chechnya region of Russia until the investigation into the crash is complete.
