December 26th, 2024

Survival Amid Tragedy: Dozens Dead in Kazakhstan Plane Crash, but Many Survive

A plane crash in western Kazakhstan involving an Azerbaijani airliner resulted in 38 deaths and 29 survivors. The incident was linked to a suspected bird strike during an emergency landing.

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Survival Amid Tragedy: Dozens Dead in Kazakhstan Plane Crash, but Many Survive

A plane crash in western Kazakhstan involving an Azerbaijani airliner resulted in 38 fatalities, while 29 individuals survived. The incident occurred near Aktau when the Embraer 190 aircraft was attempting an emergency landing. There were 67 people on board, including 62 passengers and five crew members. Initial reports suggested a bird strike may have caused the emergency, prompting the pilots to divert to Aktau. The flight was originally en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, but was rerouted due to fog. Among the passengers, the majority were Azerbaijani citizens, with others from Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Mobile phone footage captured the plane's descent and subsequent explosion upon impact. Emergency responders quickly extinguished the flames, and survivors were seen assisting others. Flight-tracking data indicated significant altitude fluctuations before the crash, and there were reports of GPS jamming that may have affected navigation. The investigation is ongoing, with Azerbaijan Airlines committed to providing updates. The airline has also expressed its condolences by changing its social media banners to black in mourning. This incident underscores the unpredictable nature of air travel, where tragedy and survival can coexist.

- The crash involved an Azerbaijani airliner, resulting in 38 deaths and 29 survivors.

- The aircraft was attempting an emergency landing due to a suspected bird strike.

- The flight was rerouted from Grozny to Aktau because of poor visibility.

- Significant altitude fluctuations and possible GPS jamming were noted before the crash.

- The investigation is ongoing, with Azerbaijan Airlines pledging to keep the public informed.

Link Icon 4 comments
By @gnabgib - 3 months
From the press:

BBC (11 points, 1 comment) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42507606

New York Times (2 points, 1 comment ) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42511009

By @20after4 - 3 months
There is apparently some evidence that this plane was actually damaged by a Russian missile: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQEghJ8UVWk