A bird strike led to a catastrophic plane crash near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on Wednesday, yet 29 people, including two children, miraculously survived the disaster. The Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243, en route from Baku to Grozny in Russia’s Chechnya region, was forced into an emergency landing after the strike caused critical damage to the aircraft.
The flight was carrying 62 passengers and five crew members when the bird strike occurred shortly after takeoff. Dramatic footage captured the plane circling erratically over the airfield before plummeting to the ground approximately three kilometers from Aktau. Upon impact, the aircraft burst into flames, with bloodied passengers seen emerging from the wreckage.
Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations confirmed its teams found the plane engulfed in flames upon arrival. “Emergency responders are working tirelessly to locate the remaining passengers and provide assistance to those affected by the tragedy,” the ministry stated.
Preliminary reports revealed that the survivors, including two children, were rushed to a nearby hospital. The crash, however, claimed the lives of many onboard, with rescue teams still searching for missing passengers.
Russia’s aviation watchdog indicated that the pilot’s decision to attempt an emergency landing was a direct response to the bird strike, which severely compromised the plane’s systems.
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The ill-fated flight had passengers from various countries, including 37 Azerbaijani citizens, six Kazakhs, three Kyrgyz nationals, and 16 Russians, according to initial data.
The airline addressed the tragedy on its Facebook page, stating, “Additional information regarding the incident will be provided to the public.”
While the exact sequence of events leading to the crash remains under investigation, the survival of 29 passengers, including two young children, offers a glimmer of hope in an otherwise devastating incident. Rescue operations and inquiries continue as the world watches for answers to how a bird strike led to such a tragic outcome.
