On December 25, a catastrophic crash of an Embraer E190 passenger plane operated by Azerbaijan Airlines occurred near Aktau, Kazakhstan. The aircraft was on a scheduled passenger flight number 8243, traveling from Baku to Grozny.
Onboard the aircraft were 67 individuals, including 62 passengers and 5 crew members. As a result of the tragedy, 38 people lost their lives, while 29 survived, including three members of the crew.
According to official information from Azerbaijani government sources, the plane was struck by fragments of a Russian surface-to-air missile. The missile had been fired by air defense systems during drone activity in the skies above Grozny.
The missile inflicted critical damage on the aircraft, leading the pilots to request permission for an emergency landing at Russian airports. However, all such requests were denied. The pilots were instead ordered to proceed across the Caspian Sea toward Aktau, Kazakhstan.
At 11:02 local time, the plane entered Kazakhstan’s airspace. Upon approaching Aktau, the aircraft circled the airport twice. At 11:30 local time, flying at a low altitude with its nose down, the aircraft collided with the ground near the runway. The pilots took every possible measure to steer the plane away from residential areas, directing it toward the airport vicinity.
The impact caused the aircraft to catch fire and break apart. The tail section, which housed the majority of the survivors, detached from the main fuselage and overturned.
A total of 150 rescue personnel and 45 units of emergency equipment were deployed to the crash site to manage the situation.
A surviving passenger recounted the incident, stating, “There was a loud explosion, and immediately after that, oxygen masks dropped. It became clear that something unusual was happening. We were instructed to put on life jackets, and we circled in the air for about an hour because there was only the sea around us. We were warned about the possibility of a crash landing. Upon landing, there were two impacts, and I held tightly to my seat. The right side of the plane, where the window was located, was completely destroyed, and the front part exploded.“
Among the passengers onboard were 16 citizens of the Russian Federation, 42 citizens of Azerbaijan, 6 citizens of Kazakhstan, and 3 citizens of Kyrgyzstan. The entire crew consisted of Azerbaijani nationals.
Insurance Compensation for Victims and Their Families
Compensation for the victims and their families is regulated under Kazakhstani law.
According to current provisions, insurance claims for injuries or disabilities range from 200 to 5,000 monthly calculation indexes (MCI), while compensation for fatalities is set at 5,000 MCI.
These payments must be made regardless of whether the carrier is deemed at fault.
Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, along with leaders of numerous countries and representatives of international organizations, expressed condolences in connection with the tragedy. Azerbaijan declared December 26 a national day of mourning.
Global Aviation Accidents
According to global aviation accident statistics, this is the second plane crash in December. On December 22, a Piper PA-42 crashed in Gramado, Brazil, resulting in 10 fatalities and 17 injuries on the ground. The private Piper PA-42 aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff, hitting residential buildings in the tourist city of Gramado, located in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. All 10 passengers and crew members on board were killed, and 17 people on the ground sustained injuries.
Earlier, on November 25, a DHL cargo plane crashed at Vilnius Airport, Lithuania, resulting in one death and three injuries. The Boeing 737-476SF, operated by Swiftair, was conducting a scheduled cargo flight 5960 from Leipzig Airport, Germany, to Vilnius International Airport, Lithuania.
The aircraft crashed while attempting to land, striking the yard of a two-story building in the Lepkalnis district near the runway. One crew member died, and three others were injured.
Investigation Underway
Azerbaijan Airlines has temporarily suspended flights along the Baku–Grozny–Baku and Baku–Makhachkala–Baku routes until the investigation concludes.
Authorities in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Russia are conducting investigations into the crash. Criminal cases have been initiated in all three countries.
On the evening of December 25, the aircraft’s flight recorder was located and recovered from the crash site.
One of the preliminary causes under investigation involves damage to the aircraft caused by air defense systems. Media reports indicate that the missile fragments that struck the plane may have been launched during a drone attack targeting Grozny. Azerbaijani government sources have officially confirmed that the crash resulted from a Russian surface-to-air missile.
FAQs on the Embraer E190 Crash near Aktau
On December 25, 2024, an Embraer E190 passenger aircraft crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, while operating flight number 8243 from Baku to Grozny. The crash resulted in 38 fatalities out of 67 people onboard, including passengers and crew.
According to Azerbaijani government sources, the plane was struck by fragments of a Russian surface-to-air missile fired during drone activity over Grozny. The damage forced the pilots to request emergency landings, which were denied by Russian airports. The plane eventually crashed near Aktau.
There were 67 people onboard, including 62 passengers and 5 crew members. Of these, 29 people survived, including three members of the crew.
Pilots steered the damaged aircraft away from residential areas near Aktau and aimed for the airport vicinity. Emergency services, including 150 rescuers and 45 units of equipment, responded promptly to manage the aftermath.
The passengers included 16 citizens of Russia, 42 of Azerbaijan, 6 of Kazakhstan, and 3 of Kyrgyzstan. The crew members were all Azerbaijani nationals.
Under Kazakhstani law, victims and families of the deceased are entitled to compensation. Payments range from 200 to 5,000 monthly calculation indexes (MCI) for injuries or disabilities, and 5,000 MCI in cases of fatalities, regardless of the carrier’s fault.
Authorities in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Russia have launched investigations into the crash. Criminal cases have been opened in all three countries. The aircraft’s flight recorder has been recovered, and preliminary findings suggest the crash was caused by missile fragments.
