Baku-Grozny flight crash near Aktau: timeline of events and latest updates

Tengrinews.kz - On December 25, 2024, a tragic crash involving an Embraer 190 aircraft operated by Azerbaijan Airlines occurred in Aktau, Kazakhstan. The aircraft, en route from Baku to Grozny, crashed while landing at Aktau International Airport, resulting in the loss of passengers and crew members. This article outlines the chronology of events, the participants in the disaster, and the measures taken by Kazakhstan's Ministry of Emergency Situations.

Chronology of the Embraer 190 crash in Aktau: Day 1

December 25, 08:49 (Astana time) – The aircraft departed from Baku

According to Flightaware, the Embraer 190 passenger aircraft operating the Baku – Grozny route took off from Azerbaijan's capital airport 11 minutes ahead of schedule. It was expected to arrive in Grozny at 10:09 (Astana time).

Due to heavy fog in Grozny, the flight was initially redirected to Makhachkala and later to Aktau.

December 25, 11:00 – The aircraft issued an emergency signal

While cruising over the Caspian Sea, the Embraer 190 gave an "emergency" squawk code 7700.

The Aktau airport air traffic controller informed the Emergency Situations Department of the Mangystau Region that the Embraer 190AR aircraft operated by Azerbaijan Airlines had declared an emergency and requested to land at Aktau Airport. The expected landing time was set for 11:25.

December 25, 11:02 – The aircraft entered Kazakhstan's airspace

The Embraer 190 passenger plane operated by Azerbaijan Airlines entered Kazakhstan's airspace at 11:02, Vice Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Kanat Bozumbayev reported on Wednesday.

December 25, 11:21 – First reports of the incident

Readers of Tengrinews.kz sent in the first reports of an incident involving the aircraft in Aktau. A screenshot from the Flightradar website showed the flight’s trajectory.

December 25, 11:28 – Signal lost

At this time, according to Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev, the Embraer 190 lost communication.

December 25, 11:30 – Crash

The aircraft collided with the ground. Eyewitnesses captured the moment of the crash on video.

December 25, 11:35 – Additional reports of the incident

Readers of Tengrinews.kz reported seeing smoke at Aktau Airport.

December 25, 12:02 – First statement from Kazakhstan's Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES)

MES reported that 52 personnel and 11 units of equipment were dispatched to the crash site in Aktau. Rescue teams found the burning aircraft and began extinguishing the fire.

A national operational headquarters was immediately established at the MES command center, and a hotline was launched: 8 (7292) 319-099.

Photo: MES RK

December 25, 12:10 – Initial reports on passengers

Russian media reported that there were 67 people aboard the Embraer 190, including 5 crew members.

December 25, 12:11 – Statement from the Minister of Healthcare

Kazakhstan's Minister of Healthcare Akmaral Alnazarova, stated that 14 ambulance teams were dispatched to the crash site in Aktau. Additionally, one of the Deputy Ministers of Healthcare flew to Aktau, while another deputy was coordinating efforts from Astana. The Ministry of Healthcare also prepared a medical aviation aircraft equipped with trauma specialists and neurosurgeons to assist the injured.

December 25, 12:21 – Preliminary cause of the crash

According to Azerbaijani media, the cause of the disaster was a collision with a flock of birds.

December 25, 12:22 – First statement from the airline

Azerbaijan Airlines, the operator of the crashed plane, issued its first statement. They reported that the Embraer 190, operating flight J2-8243 on the Baku – Grozny route, made an emergency landing approximately 3 kilometers from the city of Aktau. The airline promised to provide further details later.

December 25, 12:28 – Fire extinguished

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations reported that the fire at the crash site in Aktau had been completely extinguished.

Medical personnel and psychologists arrived at the scene to assist the injured.

Photo: MES RK

December 25, 12:33 – First injured passengers taken to the hospital

The regional healthcare department reported that 12 people, including one child, were transported from the crash site to Mangystau Regional Hospital with various injuries.

December 25, 13:03 – Preliminary passenger data from MES

MES reported that, according to preliminary data, there were 67 people aboard the crashed aircraft: 62 passengers and 5 crew members.

December 25, 13:06 – Criminal case initiated

A criminal case was opened regarding the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane in Aktau, the Transport Police Department reported.

The case is being investigated under Article 345 of Kazakhstan's Criminal Code: "Violation of safety rules during the operation of a transport vehicle resulting in the negligent death of two or more persons."

December 25, 13:38 – Number of survivors

MES announced that 29 people, including two children, were injured. All were transported to medical facilities, including the Mangystau Regional Hospital and the Regional Children's Hospital.

December 25, 13:43 – Preliminary cause of the crash

According to Rosaviatsia (Russian Federal Air Transport Agency), the likely cause of the Embraer 190 crash at Aktau Airport was a collision with birds.

December 25, 13:47 – Government commission established

The Kazakh government formed a commission to investigate the causes of the plane crash in Aktau.

The commission includes the Deputy Prime Minister, the Akim (Governor) of Mangystau Region, and leaders from the Ministries of Emergency Situations, Transport, Foreign Affairs, Internal Affairs, Labor and Social Protection, and Healthcare, as well as the Chief Transport Prosecutor.

December 25, 13:51 – Airline statement

According to preliminary data from Azerbaijan Airlines, there were 62 passengers on board: 6 Kazakh citizens, 37 Azerbaijani citizens, 3 Kyrgyz citizens, and 16 Russian citizens.

December 25, 13:55 – Passenger list published

Azerbaijan Airlines released the passenger list for the Baku – Grozny flight.

December 25, 14:02 – New footage from the crash site

Tengrinews.kz obtained photos from the scene of the passenger plane crash in Aktau.

Photo: Azamat Sarsenbayev

December 25, 14:03 – Additional hotline established

Azerbaijan Airlines set up a hotline for the families of passengers on board the crashed plane: (+994) 12 5048280, (+994) 12 5048202, (+994) 12 5048203.

December 25, 14:21 – Ilham Aliyev offers condolences

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev expressed his condolences to the families of those who died in the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash.

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December 25, 14:26 – First list of survivors

A source shared with Tengrinews.kz a list of passengers who survived the crash.

December 25, 14:32 – Statement from the Prosecutor General's Office

Kazakhstan's Prosecutor General's Office announced the formation of an interdepartmental investigative-operational group led by special prosecutors. The criminal case is under the direct supervision of Prosecutor General Berik Asylov.

December 25, 14:40 – Kazakhs begin donating blood for the injured

The first reports emerged that residents of Aktau had started donating blood to help those injured in the plane crash.

Photo: Akimat of Mangystau region

December 25, 15:30 – Tokayev expresses condolences

Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expressed his condolences to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

"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 telegram reads.

December 25, 15:50 – Blogger detained

Azamat Sarsenbayev, a blogger from Aktau, was detained by officers of the Mangystau Region Police Department. Sarsenbaev suggested that he was detained "for filming the crash site."

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December 25, 15:47 – Delegation from Azerbaijan arrives in Aktau

A delegation consisting of rescuers, psychologists, and prosecutors, headed by the Azerbaijani Minister for Emergency Situations, arrived in Aktau.

Photo: press service of the Akimat of Mangystau region

December 25, 16:22 – Kazakhs begin laying flowers

Kazakhs began laying flowers at the entrance of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Astana.

December 25, 16:31 – Prime Minister reports to the President

Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov informed President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev about the situation regarding the plane crash in Aktau.

The President instructed that work with the affected citizens be closely monitored and that necessary assistance be provided to the governments of neighboring countries.

December 25, 16:43 – Azerbaijan announces a day of mourning

December 26 was declared a day of mourning in Azerbaijan. Ilham Aliyev signed the corresponding decree.

December 25, 17:13 – Footage from inside the plane

Footage taken inside the Embraer 190 plane shortly before it crashed appeared on social media.

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December 25, 17:47 – Ilham Aliyev makes a statement

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev commented on the plane crash in Aktau.

"...the causes of the crash are unknown. There are various versions. I believe it is too early to discuss this matter. The issue must be fully investigated," Aliyev said.

December 25, 18:02 – Holes on the plane's tail

Footage showing strange holes on the tail of the plane that crashed in Aktau appeared on social media.

CAZAQUISTÃO 🇰🇿

Fuselagem do Embraer E190 que caiu no Cazaquistão hoje apresenta marcar de estilhaços, como de tivesse sido alvejado.

O voo da Azerbaijan Airlines iria de Baku para Grozny na Rússia, e caiu no Cazaquistão com 72 pessoas (67 passageiros e 5 tripulantes) a bordo,… pic.twitter.com/2hBULJaJ9l

— Gustavo Rebello (@Gu_rebel) December 25, 2024

December 25, 18:10 – Vice Prime Minister arrives in Aktau

The interdepartmental commission investigating the plane crash, led by Kazakhstan’s Vice Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev, arrived in Aktau.

Photo: Akimat of Mangystau region

December 25, 18:24 – Condolences from the airline

"Today is a tragic day for AZAL. We extend our deepest condolences with profound sorrow to the families and loved ones of the passengers and crew members who lost their lives in the crash of the Embraer-190 aircraft near the city of Aktau. We pray for God's mercy upon them. Their pain is our pain. We wish a speedy recovery to the injured," stated Azerbaijan Airlines.

December 25, 19:09 – Minister for Emergency Situations arrives in Aktau

Kazakhstan's Minister for Emergency Situations, Chingiz Arinov, arrived in Aktau.

December 25, 19:35 – Suspension of flights

Azerbaijan Airlines announced that it was suspending flights on the Baku – Grozny – Baku and Baku – Makhachkala – Baku routes until the completion of the investigation.

December 25, 19:44 – Information about the deceased

The Vice Prime Minister shared details in an interview with Tengrinews.kz, stating that 38 people died in the crash. The bodies of the deceased are in the morgue and will need to be identified.

December 25, 19:46 – Preliminary information on Kazakhs

Vice Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev reported that there were no Kazakh citizens among the surviving passengers.

December 25, 19:48 – Information about the crew members

Kazakhstan's Ministry for Emergency Situations stated that all crew members of the Embraer 190 were Azerbaijani citizens.

December 25, 19:51 – State of emergency

The Akimat (local government) of Tupkaragan District (western Mangystau Region) declared a local state of emergency.

December 25, 20:59 – Medical flight arrives in Aktau

A sanitary aviation plane with a team of leading specialists from Astana landed in Aktau to provide medical assistance to the survivors of the crash.

December 25, 21:17 – All Kazakhstanis deceased

There were 6 Kazakhstanis on board the Embraer 190 flight from Baku to Grozny. All of them perished, stated Kazakhstan's Minister of Transport Marat Karabaev during a briefing.

December 25, 21:22 – Black box found

The search team found the black box of the Embraer 190 passenger plane that crashed in Aktau on December 25. This was announced by Kazakhstan's chief transport prosecutor Timur Suleimenov during a briefing in Aktau.

December 25, 21:39 – Rumors of the plane being "shot at"

Vice Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev commented on rumors that the Embraer 190 might have been shot at, which supposedly caused holes in the plane's tail.

"A criminal investigation group has been created. With me, there are both forensic experts and experts from our Aviation Administration who investigate such incidents. They will collect all the evidence within the criminal case, conduct necessary examinations, and, accordingly, determine the cause of the crash. It’s premature to make statements," said Kanat Bozumbayev.

December 25, 21:46 – Kazakhstan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses condolences

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan expressed deep condolences regarding the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines aircraft in the city of Aktau, which resulted in the deaths of passengers.

December 25, 22:03 – Assistance for the victims' relatives

Akim (governor) of Mangystau Region Nurdaulet Kilybay promised to assist the relatives of those affected by the plane crash in Aktau. The official recommended contacting the following phone number: +7 702 525 31 01. It operates 24/7.

December 25, 22:28 – The plane passed technical inspection

The last full technical inspection of the Embraer 190 aircraft was conducted on October 18, 2024, according to Azerbaijan Airlines.

Chronology of the Embraer 190 crash in Aktau. Day 2

December 26, 00:12 – Names of deceased Kazakhstanis

The Ministry of Emergency Situations of Kazakhstan published the names of the Kazakhstanis who died in the aviation disaster.

December 26, 01:00 (Astana time) – Day of mourning

A day of mourning began in Azerbaijan following the plane crash in Aktau, which resulted in the deaths of 38 people from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Russia. All three Kyrgyz citizens on board the Baku – Grozny flight survived.

December 26, 07:45 – Embraer statement

The Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer, maker of the plane that crashed near Aktau on December 25, issued a statement following the aviation disaster.

"Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences go out to the families, friends, colleagues, and loved ones affected by this incident. We are closely monitoring the situation and we remain fully committed to supporting the relevant authorities," the statement reads.

December 26, 09:17 – Embraer specialists flew to Kazakhstan

Representatives from the aircraft manufacturer Embraer and CENIPA (Brazil’s Center for Investigation and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents) flew to Kazakhstan.

December 26, 09:30 – Bodies of the deceased will be sent to Azerbaijan

The bodies of those killed in the aviation disaster in Aktau will be transported to Azerbaijan. This was reported by the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan Airlines.

December 26, 10:27 – Injured Russians sent to Moscow

Residents of the Mangystau region saw off nine Russian citizens who were injured in the aviation disaster in Aktau to Moscow.

Photo by the press service of the Akimat of Mangystau region

December 26, 11:21 – Bodies of 7 people identified

According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations, the bodies of 7 of the 38 people killed in the Aktau plane crash have been identified.

December 26, 11:38 – Prime Minister ordered stronger aviation security

Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov received a report on the work of the government commission at the site of the aviation disaster in Aktau and instructed to strengthen aviation security in Kazakhstan.

December 26, 12:40 – Senate Speaker comments on the tragedy

Kazakhstan's Senate Speaker Maulen Ashimbayev commented on the tragedy in Aktau, stating that it was too early to draw conclusions.

"The nature of these damages and the cause of the disaster are currently unknown. A special commission is working, with representatives from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Russia involved. Our specialists are working alongside those from these countries. To draw conclusions based on photographs at this stage is speculation, and such statements are unfounded. Spreading such assessments now seems wrong and unethical," said Maulen Ashimbayev at a briefing.

December 26, 14:09 – Aktau residents donate blood

Residents of Aktau lined up to donate blood.

December 26, 15:20 – Names of deceased Azerbaijanis

The Ministry of Healthcare of Azerbaijan published the names of the Azerbaijani citizens who died in the aviation disaster.

December 26, 16:10 – Aktau residents bring flowers and posters

Flowers were laid at the General Consulate of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Aktau in memory of the deceased Azerbaijanis, and posters appeared on the walls.

Photo: Akimat of Mangystau region

December 26, 16:16 – Moment of silence in Baku

A moment of silence was held in Baku at Heydar Aliyev International Airport to honor those who died in the tragic incident on flight Baku-Grozny J2-8243.

December 26, 18:47 – Another theory about the cause of the crash – a missile

A source in the Azerbaijani government told Euronews that the damaged plane was not allowed to land at Russian airports.

December 26, 18:50 – Bodies of 10 victims identified

The bodies of 10 of the 38 people who died in the Baku-Grozny flight crash have been identified, reported Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations.

December 26, 19:29 – Deputy Prime Minister’s comment

Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev told a Tengrinews.kz correspondent that the investigation into the plane crash near Aktau is ongoing.

"We cannot confirm or deny any of the versions at this time. The investigation is still ongoing," said Bozumbayev.

December 26, 19:56 – Sailors lowered wreaths into the Caspian Sea

Memorial services were held at the ports of Kuryk and Aktau in memory of the victims of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash on the Baku-Grozny flight.

At the Aktau seaport, sailors and port management honored the memory of the deceased with a moment of silence. Mourning wreaths were lowered into the water from a boat as a symbol of grief and support for the families of the victims. The sailors expressed their deepest condolences to the families of the crash victims.

December 26, 20:09 – Compensation amounts for families of deceased Kazakhs announced

Compensation for the loss of a breadwinner will amount to 138,000 tenge. Through the SSIF, 257,000 tenge will be provided, said Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population Akmadi Sarbasov.

December 26, 20:35 – New details of the plane crash

The Azerbaijan Airlines plane that crashed in Aktau had a failure in its control systems, including the elevator and ailerons. This was reported by Kazakhstan’s Minister of Transport Marat Karabaev at a briefing in the Mangystau region.

The Embraer aircraft, operating flight No. 8243, was approaching a diversion airport from the city of Grozny. Before entering the airspace of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the aircraft’s control systems, including the elevator and ailerons, failed.

The Rostov air traffic controller reported that after receiving weather data for Makhachkala and Baku, the crew decided to fly to Aktau. At 10:53, the flight director in Rostov informed the flight director at the Aktau tower that an oxygen tank had exploded in the passenger cabin, causing passengers to lose consciousness, and they requested resuscitation upon arrival. Immediately, the head of "KazAeroNavigation" flight operations notified all emergency services, including fire and medical personnel, about the arrival of the emergency aircraft at Aktau airport. The services responded promptly.

Before the aircraft entered Kazakhstan’s airspace, all airport emergency services were ready to receive the plane.

December 26, 20:35 – Azerbaijani citizens injured in the plane crash return home

14 Azerbaijani citizens who were injured in the crash and 20 members of the country's delegation, who arrived in Aktau on December 25, have returned home.

Among those returning were 2 flight attendants and 1 child. They received necessary treatment at the hospital, and after their condition stabilized, they left for Baku.

Photo of Mangistau Region Akimat

December 26, 21:32 – The unidentified passenger was a 20-year-old Azerbaijani citizen

Vice Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbaev reported that six people were hospitalized in Aktau. Among them were three citizens of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan and three citizens of Azerbaijan. The woman who had been unidentified was recognized by her relatives. She is 20 years old, and her name is Hafizat Khalaeva, a citizen of Azerbaijan.

December 26, 23:40 – Israeli airline El Al suspends flights to Moscow

Aviation representatives have linked this decision to the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines aircraft on December 25 near Aktau. It is increasingly believed that "the crash was caused by the Russian air defense system, which was attempting to shoot down Ukrainian drones."

December 27, 00:41 – What Azerbaijani media are saying about the causes of the plane crash in Aktau

The publication Minval.az released an editorial in which they referred to the version provided by colleagues from Caliber.Az as "practically official information" and urged "Russia to apologize," reminding:

"Azerbaijan and Russia are far from being hostile to each other. A Declaration on Allied Interaction was signed between our countries. Such relations already presuppose a completely different level of mutual understanding, especially in critical situations."

Azerbaijani MP Rasim Musabekov has an equally categorical position on the situation. In an interview with Turan, he said that "the plane was shot down on Russian territory, and it is impossible to deny this." The parliamentarian demanded "an apology from Russia for what happened," otherwise the countries' relations "will move to another level."

So far, Russia has not commented on the versions of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash near Aktau.

Meanwhile, Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbaev stated in an interview with our correspondent that experts are continuing to investigate the plane crash.

"At this time, it is not possible to confirm or deny any of the versions," he said.

A similar stance was expressed by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on December 25:

"The causes of the accident are unknown to us. There are different versions. I believe it is too early to discuss this. The issue must be fully investigated," Azertag quoted him as saying.

December 27, 2024, 09:08 – Expert opinion

Political analyst Gaziz Abishev emphasized that both Russia and Azerbaijan are allies of Kazakhstan. According to him, it is important to consider the allied relations between the countries in this case.

"Kazakhstan itself has no connection to the causes of the incident. Azerbaijan, whose aircraft crashed and whose citizens died, will expect from Kazakhstan, whose citizens also perished, full and objective information through previously agreed-upon reliable channels," Abishev wrote in his Telegram channel.

December 27, 2024, 08:47 – "We were well looked after in Kazakhstan"

Azerbaijani citizens who survived the crash of the plane near Aktau shared their condition and expressed their gratitude to the Kazakh doctors.

December 27, 2024, 10:56 – Six patients being treated in Aktau hospital

Doctors at the Mangystau Regional Multidisciplinary Hospital reported on the condition of the passengers still receiving treatment. Four of them are in intensive care. The condition of one is extremely serious, three are in stable serious condition. Two patients continue treatment in the traumatology department.

December 27, 2024, 12:57 – Qazaq Air suspends flights to Yekaterinburg

Qazaq Air announced that it is temporarily suspending flights on the Astana - Yekaterinburg route from December 28, 2024, to January 27, 2025.

"The airline will continue operating flights to Omsk and Novosibirsk, which currently meet Qazaq Air's risk assessment criteria. Flights to Yekaterinburg will resume following a reassessment of the risks," the company stated.

It is worth noting that another Kazakh airline, Air Astana, previously suspended flights to Russia. At the time, the airline stated that "due to the termination of insurance coverage for commercial flights to/from Russia and over its territory, all flights in this direction have been suspended."

What is known about the crashed Azerbaijan Airlines plane

The aircraft that crashed near Aktau was an Embraer ERJ-190, a twin-engine jet widely used for short- and medium-range routes. The planes are produced by the Brazilian company Embraer. The ERJ-190 (E190) model is designed to carry between 98 and 108 passengers, depending on the cabin configuration. The Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer E190 is configured for 106 seats.

Photo: embraercommercialaviation.com

The aircraft's length is 34.93 meters, and its height is 9.73 meters. It is powered by two General Electric CF34 turbofan engines. These aircraft are capable of flying distances of up to 4,500 kilometers.

As reported by AZE.az, in 2014, Azerbaijan Airlines and Embraer signed a contract for the purchase of two E190 aircraft, with the contract valued at $95.4 million. According to Deliveries and Backlog Release data as of December 31, 2021, Embraer had delivered 565 aircraft worldwide.

Azerbaijan Airlines' fleet includes a total of 8 Embraer 190 aircraft.

Crash in Aktau: Historical parallels

The crash of the Embraer 190 in Aktau on December 25, 2024, is not the first incident involving the Embraer ERJ-190 aircraft. On November 11, 2018, an Air Astana aircraft encountered technical malfunctions shortly after takeoff. The aircraft was performing a ferry flight, KC1388, from the aviation and technical center in Lisbon, Portugal, to Almaty.

The aircraft sent a distress signal, after which two Portuguese Air Force fighter jets were dispatched from the Monte Real base for escort. The crew decided to make an unscheduled landing at Beja Airport in Portugal.

Additionally, according to Lada.kz, on December 23, 2005, a passenger plane, the Antonov An-140, which had taken off from Heydar Aliyev International Airport at 22:27 local time, crashed about seven minutes later, 18 kilometers from the airport near the village of Nardaran. The aircraft was en route from Baku to Aktau. The crash resulted in the deaths of 18 passengers and five crew members, including 15 Azerbaijani nationals and eight foreign nationals.