After apparently being redirected because of fog, the Embraer 190 aircraft, which was its way from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, crashed close to Aktau, Kazakhstan. Authorities rescued 29 survivors after the jet, which was carrying 62 passengers and five crew members, had to make an emergency landing.

The plane crossed the Caspian Sea and crashed close to the Kazakh city of Aktau instead of travelling northwest from Baku to Grozny. According to the Flight Radar website, the plane deviated from its intended path, crossed the Caspian Sea, and circled over the region where it ultimately crashed close to Aktau.

One of the survivors, who managed to record the horrifying sequence of events on a mobile phone, described the moments of panic as the aircraft began to shudder violently. The footage, now circulating on social media, shows terrified passengers gripping their seats as the plane descended. The chaos was palpable, with screams and prayers audible in the background.

Kazakhstan’s Aviation Authority has launched a full-scale investigation into the crash. Preliminary data indicates a possible engine failure, but officials have not ruled out other factors, including adverse weather conditions or pilot error. The aircraft’s black box has been recovered and will be analyzed to ascertain the exact cause.

Azerbaijan Airlines released a statement expressing deep condolences to the victims and their families. “We are cooperating fully with local authorities and will ensure that the families affected by this tragedy receive all necessary support,” the airline said.

38 people died and 29 survivors were taken to hospitals, although Azerbaijani, Russian, and Kazakh officials cautioned that these figures could change. The aircraft was carrying 37 citizens of Azerbaijan, six from Kazakhstan, three from Kyrgyzstan, and 16 from Russia, according to the Kazakh transport ministry.

In the coming days, further details are expected to shed light on the events leading to the crash, bringing some solace to grieving families and ensuring accountability. For now, the focus remains on supporting the survivors and honoring the lives lost in this unfortunate accident.