Bird strike suspected in Azerbaijan Airlines crash, 42 dead
An Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane tragically crashed near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan, with initial investigations suggesting a bird strike as the possible cause. The incident occurred yesterday, December 25, leaving 42 people dead but miraculously 25 individuals survived the ordeal.
The plane, which had departed from Baku, Azerbaijan, was en route to Grozny, Chechnya. Due to dense fog in Grozny, the flight was forced to alter its course. This change in route, however, did not prevent the tragic accident that unfolded shortly thereafter.
Emergency services in Kazakhstan swiftly responded to the crash site, battling flames engulfing the wreckage. The Ministry of Emergency Situations in Kazakhstan confirmed that 25 people survived the crash, with 22 of them being transported to the hospital for further treatment. Despite the tragedy, the survival of these individuals is being seen as a miracle, reported KhaoSod.
“The cause might have been a collision with a flock of birds,” stated the airline as they began urgent investigations into the incident. The flight was carrying 67 passengers and five crew members, totalling 72 individuals onboard at the time of the crash.
In related news, a small plane crash sparked a frantic search for survivors after it went down in a remote, mangrove-covered area of Chachoengsao province on August 22.
The crash, which occurred at 3.15pm, on August 22 near Wat Khao Din in the Bang Pakong district, left the plane’s wreckage scattered across the dense, inaccessible forest, leaving rescue teams scrambling to locate any passengers.
Rescue teams are currently battling harsh conditions to comb through the wreckage, with no survivors found yet. Officials fear the worst, as they suspect the pilot may be trapped in the thick mud. At the crash site, rescuers discovered items including clothing and a watch, fuelling concerns that someone may still be buried in the treacherous terrain.
