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Aktau plane crash: Chronology of the disaster

Photo: Isa Tazhenbayev, Erlan Dzhumayev, Expedition +362 / Tengrinews.kz

Tengrinews.kz - A passenger plane operated by Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL), flight AHY8243 from Baku to Grozny, crashed on December 25. Here is what is known so far.

The Embraer ERJ-190 aircraft, designed to carry 106 passengers, declared an emergency while flying over the Caspian Sea and attempted to land in Aktau. Tragically, the attempt ended in a crash. There were 69 people on board.

Timeline of events

08:49 A.M. Astana time: The flight departed Baku for Grozny, 11 minutes earlier than scheduled.

While flying over the Caspian Sea, the crew declared an emergency (squawk 7700).

Due to dense fog in Grozny, the flight was diverted first to Makhachkala and then to Aktau.

11:00 A.M. local time: Aktau Airport’s dispatcher informed the Emergency Situations Department of the Mangystau region that the Embraer ERJ-190 had declared an emergency and requested to land. The estimated landing time was set for 11:25 A.M.

11:30 A.M. local time: Reports emerged of the plane crashing 3 kilometers from Aktau Airport.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry for Emergency Situations, National Guard, and 14 ambulance teams were dispatched to the crash site. Initially, 288 personnel and 65 units of equipment were involved, later increasing to 430 staff and 80 units.

Hotlines were set up:

Command center of the Ministry of Emergency Situations: 8-7172-55-96-2, 8-7172-55-96-83
Aktau line: 8-7292-31-90-91

Rescuers extinguished the fire and began searching through the wreckage. Early footage from the crash site appeared shortly after. The official cause of the crash will be announced after the investigation is complete.

Possible causes of the crash

Preliminary reports suggest the plane may have collided with a flock of birds, which could have caused the disaster. Earlier, dense fog in Grozny forced the route change to Makhachkala and Aktau.

Some media outlets later reported that an oxygen tank exploded on board, causing the aircraft to lose steering control and crash within three minutes of reaching Aktau Airport.

None of these versions have been officially confirmed.

Investigations and rescue operations

An interagency task force led by Kazakhstan’s Prosecutor General’s Office has been formed, including specialists from the transport prosecutor’s office, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Ministry for Emergency Situations. The investigation is under special oversight.

The Chief Transport Prosecutor is working on-site, and rescue operations are ongoing.

Residents of Aktau have stepped forward to help survivors of the recent plane crash by donating blood. This act of solidarity was met with heartfelt gratitude from Azerbaijani citizens.

Passenger and crew information

According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations, the passengers included:

42 citizens of Azerbaijan
16 citizens of Russia
6 citizens of Kazakhstan
3 citizens of Kyrgyzstan
2 unidentified women, aged approximately 32 and 40

A total of 69 people, including five crew members, were on board.

The crew included: Igor Kshnyakin, Alexander Kalyaninov, Hokuma Aliyeva, Zulfugar Asadov, and Aidana Ragimli.

AZAL Airlines has released a full list of passengers.

For families, hotlines are available:

(+994) 12 5048280
(+994) 12 5048202
(+994) 12 5048203

Survivors

There are 29 survivors, including citizens of Azerbaijan, Russia, and Kyrgyzstan. Some are in critical condition.

The complete list can be found here.

Among them are two girls born in 2008 and 2013, receiving necessary care. Neither is a Kazakhstani citizen.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev expressed condolences to the families of the victims via his official Instagram account. He celebrated his birthday yesterday. On December 25, he canceled his participation in the CIS informal summit in St. Petersburg and returned to Baku. December 26 has been declared a day of mourning in Azerbaijan.

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also expressed condolences.

"Sharing in the grief of this irreplaceable loss, I express my sincere condolences to you, the families and loved ones of the victims, as well as to the people of Azerbaijan. By my order, the government of Kazakhstan has established a state commission, which is taking necessary measures within the framework of the rescue operation and will also provide further support to the Azerbaijani side," the message reads.

In addition, Azerbaijani media reported that staff at Heydar Aliyev International Airport began dismantling a New Year’s tree installed in the terminal. This gesture is reportedly linked to the mourning period for those who lost their lives in the plane crash.

What is known about the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane

The Embraer ERJ-190, manufactured by a Brazilian company, is a twin-engine jet commonly used for short- and medium-haul flights. It can carry 98 to 108 passengers, depending on the configuration, and has a range of up to 4,500 kilometers.

According to FlightAware, the plane departed 11 minutes ahead of schedule and declared an emergency while cruising over the Caspian Sea.

Air crash in Aktau: video from the plane cabin has appeared

Photo: Isa Tazhenbayev, Erlan Dzhumayev, Expedition +362 / Tengrinews.kz

Aktau plane crash passengers

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