Tengrinews.kz - President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev reflected on the plane crash involving AZAL near Aktau, highlighting how Kazakh citizens responded to the tragedy.
Speaking at the latest session of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan (APK), Tokayev emphasized the unity between Kazakhstan and its neighboring countries and praised the solidarity shown by citizens during critical times.
“We were reminded of this again last year when the plane crash occurred near Aktau. Our people rushed to help the victims. They stood in long lines to donate blood. They laid flowers at the Embassy of Azerbaijan. The whole world was moved by the unity and selflessness of our people. In that moment, the openness, kindness, and generosity of our citizens were on full display. Mercy, compassion, and goodwill are core traits of our national character. We must preserve these values and pass them on to future generations,” Tokayev said.
Aktau plane crash: What happened?
Azerbaijan Airlines plane, flying from Baku (Azerbaijan) to Grozny (Russia), crashed three kilometers from Aktau at 11:30 A.M. local time on December 25. The passenger flight was unable to land in Grozny due to heavy fog, first, it was redirected to Makhachkala, and then to Aktau.
According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, there were 69 people on board, including 5 crew members:
- 42 citizens of Azerbaijan
- 16 citizens of Russia
- 6 citizens of Kazakhstan
- 3 citizens of Kyrgyzstan
Azerbaijan Airlines also published a full list of passengers.