An Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) crash in Kazakhstan early Wednesday has left at least 42 people dead, with 25 survivors, according to Kazakhstan’s emergency ministry.
The incident occurred when Flight 8432, traveling from Baku to Grozny, made an emergency landing near the city of Aktau.
Preliminary reports suggest the Embraer 190 aircraft collided with a flock of birds approximately three kilometers from Aktau, leading to the crash.
The plane was carrying 67 people, including five crew members. Of the 25 survivors, 22 were hospitalized with injuries.
Kazakhstan’s emergency ministry responded swiftly, dispatching over 50 first responders and 11 units of equipment to the crash site. The aircraft came down in an area just outside the city, prompting local authorities to launch a full investigation into the incident.
Azerbaijan Airlines has not yet released an official statement, but early indicators point to bird strike as the leading cause. The Embraer 190 is a widely used regional jet, known for its safety record, making the crash a rare and tragic event for the airline.
Rescue efforts were ongoing throughout the day as emergency teams worked to recover passengers and secure the area. Investigators are expected to analyze flight data and cockpit recordings to determine the full sequence of events leading to the accident.
Azerbaijan Airlines has published a list of passengers on the Baku-Grozny flight.
While aviation experts acknowledge bird strikes as a known risk during flights, incidents of this scale are uncommon. The crash has sparked discussions about bird strike prevention measures and the challenges pilots face in such emergencies.
Kazakhstan’s aviation authorities, alongside Azerbaijani officials, have pledged to cooperate fully in the investigation. Further updates are expected as the inquiry progresses.
