Plane crashes in Kazakhstan, dozens survive bird strike

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A tragic plane crash in Kazakhstan’s city of Aktau has left numerous casualties, with Kazakhstan’s Emergency Ministry reporting 28 survivors among the 67 passengers and crew members aboard the Azerbaijani airliner.

The ministry’s latest update on Telegram indicates that the survivors have been taken to hospitals for treatment. According to Interfax, citing ministry sources, medical personnel at the crash site have recovered four bodies, with the possibility of finding more survivors still open.

NEW: Man films video from his flight to Grozny, Russia that he sent to his wife just moments before the plane crashed in Kazakhstan.

Rescuers entered the aircraft after the crash and remarkably found survivors.

At the moment, it’s believed that 42 people are de*d while 29… pic.twitter.com/JfVYgF1wfq

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) December 25, 2024

Azerbaijan Airlines confirmed that their Embraer 190 aircraft made an emergency landing approximately 3 kilometers from Aktau. The ministry’s survivor count has been revised multiple times throughout the rescue operation, starting at 25, then increasing to 27, and finally reaching 28.

The flight, which originally intended to connect Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, carried a diverse group of passengers. The airline reported that the manifest included 37 Azerbaijani nationals, 16 Russians, six Kazakhs, and three Kyrgyz citizens.

Rosaviatsia, Russia’s civil aviation authority, reported through a spokesperson that the pilot diverted to Aktau following a bird strike that created an emergency situation mid-flight.

Disturbing mobile phone footage has emerged showing the aircraft’s final moments, depicting a steep descent before impact and subsequent explosion. Additional video evidence reveals the aircraft’s severely damaged condition post-crash, with the fuselage separated from other major components.

Survivors inside the Christmas Day Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash in Kazakhstan.

Over half of the 67 aboard perished, reportedly.

It’s a miracle so many survived. pic.twitter.com/oE4w0Nxi8F

— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) December 25, 2024

Social media platforms have been flooded with videos showing survivors helping fellow passengers escape the wreckage. FlightRadar24’s tracking data revealed unusual flight patterns near Aktau airport, with significant altitude fluctuations before the crash. The tracking service also noted strong GPS jamming in the area, which affected the aircraft’s ADS-B data transmission – an issue previously associated with Russian interference in the region.

Embraer, the aircraft manufacturer, has not yet provided any comment on the incident. Azerbaijan Airlines has promised to maintain transparency with updates and has modified its social media presence to reflect the gravity of the situation.

Azerbaijan has dispatched a high-level delegation to Aktau, including the emergency situations minister, deputy general prosecutor, and Azerbaijan Airlines’ vice president, to conduct an immediate investigation at the crash site.