“The Embraer 190 aircraft, coming from Baku in Azerbaijan to Grozny in Russia, crashed into Aktau, Kazakhstan, having been diverted from its route owing to foggy weather, on Wednesday.” 
Hindustan Times Reported.

On December 25, 2024, a devastating plane crash, an Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer E190AR, killed 38 people and brought the world into shock. The flight was labeled as J2-8243, which was flying from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, with 62 passengers and 5 crew members on board. It crashed near the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan with hundreds of miles off course and without its destination. Despite the terrible scene, 29 people were saved from the debris, most of them still in critical condition.

The first reports from experts in aviation suggest that the emergency situation which led to the required diversion of the plane from its initial course was a bird strike. But additional options are also being thought of that sound more sinister. Investigators also noticed strange holes in the fuselage as if indicative of shrapnel damage, possibly indicating that the plane was accidentally shot down. This speculation arises in light of increased military tension and heightened drone activity in the region, particularly involving Russian air defenses.

Witnesses near the site of the crash narrate what they saw as the aircraft wings tried to make emergency landings before bursting into flames. Videos and images from the aftermath capture the scene, with wreckage that has become consumed by flames, an extremely sobering reminder of the catastrophe. Emergency services from Kazakhstan responded in no time to rescue survivors and recover those dead.