Azerbaijan observed a nationwide day of mourning for the victims of the recent air crash that claimed the lives of 38 individuals and left 29 survivors injured. The tragic incident involved an Azerbaijan Airlines' Embraer 190 aircraft en route from Baku to Grozny, Russia, which crashed while attempting to land in Aktau, Kazakhstan. The plane went down approximately 3 kilometers from Aktau, with eyewitness footage showing a steep descent and subsequent impact.
National flags were lowered, traffic halted, and signals sounded across Azerbaijan as the country observed a moment of silence. President Ilham Aliyev mentioned that adverse weather conditions forced the plane to change its course, leading to the crash upon landing in Aktau. Russian aviation authorities suggested that a bird strike prompted an emergency onboard, resulting in the diversion to Aktau.
The passengers included citizens from Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. As investigations commenced, various theories emerged, including speculation about a possible drone attack. Osprey Flight Solutions, a UK-based aviation security firm, raised concerns that the aircraft may have been shot down by a Russian military air-defense system.
Despite these claims, Kremlin officials emphasized the need to await the investigation's findings before drawing conclusions. Both Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan refrained from commenting on the crash's cause, deferring to the investigative process for clarity. The incident serves as a somber reminder of the risks associated with conflict zones and the importance of aviation security measures.
