Tragedy in the Skies: Eyewitness Footage Reveals Chilling Moments of Azerbaijan Airlines Crash in Kazakhstan

On Wednesday, an Embraer 190 jet en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, tragically crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, after being diverted because of foggy conditions.

A passenger aboard the tragic Azerbaijan Airlines flight that met its fate near Aktau, Kazakhstan, recorded harrowing moments before and after the incident, presenting a frightening glimpse into the chaos that unfolded inside the aircraft. The ill-fated flight was carrying a total of 62 passengers along with a crew of five, and it was forced to execute an emergency landing. Authorities managed to rescue 32 survivors amidst the confusion.

Initially departing from Baku, Azerbaijan, and destined for Grozny in Russia, the Embraer 190 jet crashed near Aktau after purportedly being redirected due to foggy conditions. The aircraft's original flight path took it northwest over the Caspian Sea, diverging significantly before it ultimately went down close to the city.

Real-time flight tracking indicated that the plane deviated from its scheduled route, highlighting it crossing the Caspian Sea before circling back toward the area of the crash. Disturbing footage shared by Russian media outlet RT depicted unsettling scenes, including a passenger bleeding from the head, while another was seen attempting to escape the damaged aircraft.

In another video that circulated widely on social platforms, a passenger was filmed praying fervently moments before the crash, amidst the rising panic and the loud roar of the plane's engine. This footage, which lasts just over a minute, awaits independent verification.

As the situation unfolded, the death toll tragically climbed to 38, with 29 individuals requiring hospitalization. Officials from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Russia have indicated that these figures may still be subject to change as more details emerge.

According to the Kazakh transport ministry, the ill-fated flight comprised 37 passengers from Azerbaijan, alongside six from Kazakhstan, three from Kyrgyzstan, and 16 from Russia. Initially, Azerbaijan Airlines suggested that a bird strike might have caused the incident, but this statement was later retracted. "We are unable to share the findings of the investigation at this point in time," the prosecutor general's office from Azerbaijan stated. "We are currently exploring all conceivable explanations and conducting the necessary expert analyses."

Images and videos following the crash reveal the aircraft descending rapidly and erupting into flames upon impact with the shoreline, producing a dense column of black smoke. Passengers, bloodied and injured, were observed navigating away from a section of the plane's fuselage that had remained somewhat intact.

A witness, a Kazakh woman who hurried to the scene to assist survivors, recounted her traumatic experience, stating, "I'll never forget their expressions, filled with anguish and hopelessness." She remembered a young girl desperately urging for help, pleading, “Save my mother, my mother is back there.” The emotional toll of this tragedy is profound, echoing the fears and despair faced by those involved in the incident.