Azerbaijan held a national day of mourning yesterday to honor the victims of a devastating plane crash that claimed the lives of 38 people and injured 29 others. Investigations are ongoing, but no cause has been confirmed for the tragedy.
The Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 had taken off from Baku and was on its way to Grozny in Russia’s North Caucasus before it was diverted and crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan. The plane crashed around three kilometers from Aktau, leaving destruction along its route. Videos circulating in the social media showed the airplane plummeting down before igniting into flames after hitting the ground. Other footage showed parts of the fuselage were torn apart; other parts of the aircraft lie overturned on the ground.
Azerbaijan marked the day of mourning by lowering national flags, halting traffic at noon, and sounding alarms from ships and trains during a moment of silence around the country. President Ilham Aliyev addressed the nation on Wednesday to urge patience with the unfolding of the investigation process. He admitted reports that it was due to adverse weather conditions but refused speculation about the causes of the plane crash.
“Initial information indicates that the plane changed its flight course because of deteriorating weather and tried to land in Aktau, where the accident occurred,” Aliyev said.
Rosaviatsia, Russia’s civil aviation authority, reported that a bird strike could have been the reason for the emergency diversion. Kazakh authorities said passengers from Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan were on board. Nine Russian survivors were evacuated to Moscow for further treatment.
As investigators look into the wreckage, rumors of what might have caused the disaster have surfaced. Some commentators pointed to visible holes in the tail section, speculating that the plane might have been struck by Russian air defenses countering a suspected Ukrainian drone attack. While unconfirmed, reports suggest drone activity in Chechnya and other North Caucasus regions on the day of the crash.
Osprey Flight Solutions, a UK-based aviation security firm, issued an alert to its clients, asserting that the aircraft may have been inadvertently targeted by Russian military defenses. Osprey’s CEO, Andrew Nicholson, emphasized the persistent risks of operating in conflict zones.
“This tragic incident underscores the critical importance of assessing aviation risks in conflict-affected areas,” Nicholson wrote.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov warned against hasty conclusions, calling for reliance on official results of the investigation. Kazakh parliamentary speaker Maulen Ashimbayev dismissed as speculative and unsubstantiated claims about the possible involvement of air defense.
No one at the respective authorities in Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan will comment on what might have caused the disaster. Official investigation results will bring clarity. So far, a nation mourns, waiting for answers.