A passenger plane operated by Azerbaijan Airlines crashed near Aktau in Kazakhstan, killing 42 people and leaving at least 25 survivors. The Embraer aircraft, with 67 people on board including crew members, was reportedly forced to make an emergency landing due to fog in Grozny, the capital of Russia's Chechnya. The cause of the crash is still being investigated by Kazakh authorities, but initial reports point to a possible technical problem.
Tragic Plane Crash in Kazakhstan: 42 Dead, Embraer Emb-120ER Involved
On December 27, 2019, a passenger plane operated by Azerbaijan Airlines crashed near Aktau in Kazakhstan, killing 42 people. The Embraer Embraer ER1-120 aircraft, with 67 people on board, was reportedly forced to make an emergency landing due to fog in Grozny, the capital of Russia's Chechnya. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
Background
Azerbaijan Airlines Joint Stock Company (AZAL) is the national airline of Azerbaijan. Based in Baku, Azerbaijan's capital, the airline operates scheduled passenger and cargo flights to destinations in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. AZAL was established in 1992 and is a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
The Embraer ER1-120 is a twin-engine turboprop aircraft manufactured by Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer. The aircraft is commonly used for regional and commuter flights.
Crash Details
The aircraft departed from Baku Heydar Aliyev International Airport at 05:59 (UTC) on December 27, 2019. It was scheduled to land at Aktau Airport at 07:15 (UTC) but crashed approximately 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from the airport.
According to initial reports, the aircraft experienced technical problems shortly after takeoff. The crew attempted to return to Baku, but the aircraft lost altitude and crashed.
Casualties and Survivors
Of the 67 people on board, 42 were killed in the crash. The remaining 25 passengers and crew members survived. The survivors were taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Investigation
The cause of the crash is still under investigation by Kazakh authorities. Initial reports point to a possible technical problem. The aircraft's flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder have been recovered and are being analyzed.
Top 5 FAQs
1. What caused the plane to crash? The cause of the crash is still under investigation. Initial reports point to a possible technical problem.
2. How many people were on board the plane? There were 67 people on board the plane, including 55 passengers and 12 crew members.
3. How many people survived the crash? Twenty-five people survived the crash, including 22 passengers and 3 crew members.
4. What type of plane was it? The plane was an Embraer Embraer ER1-120 aircraft.
5. What is Azerbaijan Airlines' safety record? AZAL has a good safety record. The airline has not had any fatal accidents in its 27-year history.
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