A horrific Christmas Day crash has left at least 40 people feared dead after an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on December 25. The aircraft, carrying 72 people, including 64 passengers and 5 crew members, tragically hit the ground in a fiery explosion.
The plane was originally flying from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, but was rerouted to Aktau due to dense fog in Grozny. The aircraft crashed close to the Caspian Sea, with footage showing the plane erupting into flames as it touched the ground, sending thick black smoke into the sky.

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations reported that 29 people survived the crash, with several being hospitalized, including two children. Some survivors are in critical condition, according to Kazakhstan’s deputy health minister. The victims’ nationalities included Azerbaijani, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, and Russian citizens.

The cause of the crash is currently under investigation, with authorities exploring possible factors including a bird strike, mechanical failure, and the decision to reroute the flight due to adverse weather conditions. The aircraft involved was an Embraer 190 model with flight number J2-8243.

Azerbaijan Airlines confirmed the incident in a post on X (formerly Twitter), noting that the plane made an emergency landing approximately two miles from Aktau. Investigations into the tragedy are ongoing.

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