Azerbaijan Airlines Flight Crashes Near Aktau, Kazakhstan: 29 Survivors, 38 Dead; Chilling Videos Emerge

An Azerbaijan Airlines flight, J2-8243, traveling from Baku, Azerbaijan to Grozny, Russia, crashed near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan on Wednesday after reportedly being rerouted due to dense fog. The Embraer 190 aircraft, carrying 67 people, crashed about 3 kilometres from Aktau’s city center, resulting in 38 fatalities and 29 survivors, including two children. Eleven of the survivors are in critical condition, claimed Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev.

The flight deviated from its intended route, with flight tracking data showing the plane crossed the Caspian Sea and circled over the area before going down. The crash site was immediately engulfed in flames. Emergency response teams quickly arrived, battling the fire and rescuing passengers. Disturbing footage filmed by a survivor showed chaotic scenes inside the plane before the crash, with passengers crying out in fear and oxygen masks deployed.

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations and aviation experts are investigating the cause of the crash. Early reports suggest poor weather conditions may have contributed, but mechanical failure has not been ruled out. Video footage from a firefighter’s body-cam captured the devastating damage to the aircraft, with parts of the cabin untouched by flames.
Crash Details: A Terrifying Sequence of Events

The Embraer 190 jet, carrying 67 passengers and crew, made an emergency landing approximately 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) from Aktau’s city center. According to Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev, 29 people survived, but 11 of them are in critical condition. Initial reports from the Kazakhstan Ministry of Emergency Situations stated that emergency teams found the aircraft on fire upon arrival, with rescuers battling flames to reach the wreckage. The fire was extinguished shortly thereafter, allowing search and rescue operations to continue.

The plane’s final moments were captured in chilling footage from both the cabin and the ground. Videos showed the aircraft flying erratically and circling the airfield before crashing. One of the passengers on board, who survived the crash, filmed the chaotic moments inside the cabin as the plane descended toward disaster. In the footage, the sounds of screams and frantic voices are heard, with passengers crying out "Allahu Akbar" (God is great) in the terrifying final moments. Oxygen masks dangle from above, and the seatbelt sign blinks ominously as the aircraft spirals downward.

Witnesses reported seeing the plane manoeuvring erratically before it crashed and burst into flames. Video footage from the scene shows bloodied passengers emerging from the wreckage shortly after the impact, some of them attempting to crawl or stumble away from the burning aircraft. Emergency responders quickly arrived at the site and began evacuating survivors from the debris.

Investigation Underway

Kazakh authorities have launched a full investigation into the cause of the crash, with both local and international aviation experts analysing the wreckage and the flight data. The plane’s flight recorders, or "black boxes," are expected to provide crucial information regarding the sequence of events leading up to the crash. Initial findings from the wreckage, as shared by Russian media, suggest that while the plane’s fuselage suffered severe damage from the fire, other parts of the aircraft’s cabin may have remained largely intact, possibly providing some survivors with a chance to escape.
The airline, Azerbaijan Airlines, has expressed condolences and stated that it is cooperating fully with the investigation. In a statement, the carrier said, “Our thoughts are with the passengers and crew involved in this tragic incident, and we are doing everything we can to assist with the recovery and investigation efforts.”​