Kazakh Transport Minister Marat Karabayev revealed the details of the Azerbaijani plane accident in Aktau, explaining the cause of its tragic crash.
The minister said, “An oxygen cylinder exploded on board the Azerbaijan Airlines plane, resulting in its crash near Aktau.”
The minister added, “This happened in the passenger cabin, and people there began to lose consciousness.” The Director of Aktau Tower Aviation received information about the accident at 10:53.”
“Immediately, the Aviation Director informed all emergency services – the fire brigade and medical personnel – of the arrival of an emergency aircraft at Aktau Airport,” the minister said.
The Azerbaijan Airlines plane, “Embraer 190”, which was on a flight from Baku to Grozny, crashed on the morning of December 25 near the city of Aktau in western Kazakhstan. There were five crew members and 62 passengers on board, including 16 Russians, an 11-year-old girl, 37 Azerbaijani citizens, six from Kazakhstan, and three from Kyrgyzstan.
According to the Kazakh Ministry of Health, 29 people survived. Nine wounded Russians were transported on a special flight affiliated with the Ministry of Emergencies to Moscow hospitals for treatment.
According to information from the Emergency Management Department in the Mangystau region of Kazakhstan, the bodies of ten victims were identified, including three Russian citizens.
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