On December 25, 2024, an Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 aircraft, operating Flight 8243 from Baku to Grozny, crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan. The flight carried 67 individuals—62 passengers and five crew members. Initial reports confirm at least 28 survivors, with the remaining occupants feared dead.
The aircraft was diverted to Aktau due to dense fog in Grozny. During the approach, the crew reported a control system failure, possibly resulting from a bird strike. Eyewitnesses described the plane descending steeply before impacting the ground and erupting into flames.
Emergency responders extinguished the fire and transported survivors to local hospitals, with several in critical condition. A commission has been established to investigate the crash, with Azerbaijani authorities collaborating closely with Kazakh officials.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov have expressed condolences to the victims’ families. The investigation is ongoing, focusing on the reported technical issues and the possibility of a bird strike contributing to the tragedy.
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The Embraer 190 is a twin-engine, narrow-body aircraft developed by the Brazilian aerospace company Embraer. Part of the E-Jet family, it is designed for short to medium-haul routes and typically seats around 100 passengers in a single-class configuration.
Key specifications of the Embraer 190 include:
– Length: 36.24 meters
– Wingspan: 28.72 meters
– Height: 10.57 meters
– Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW): Approximately 51,800 kg (114,199 lbs)
– Maximum Range: Up to 2,450 nautical miles (4,537 km)
– Cruising Speed: Mach 0.78 (approximately 829 km/h or 515 mph)
The aircraft is powered by two General Electric CF34-10E turbofan engines, each producing up to 20,000 pounds of thrust.
The Embraer 190 is known for its efficiency and reliability, making it popular among regional and mainline carriers worldwide. Its design includes a spacious cabin with a four-abreast seating arrangement, enhancing passenger comfort by eliminating middle seats.
In terms of safety, the Embraer 190 has a solid operational record. However, like all aircraft, it has been involved in a few incidents over the years. Notably, on August 24, 2010, Henan Airlines Flight 8387, an E190, crash-landed near Yichun Lindu Airport in China, resulting in 44 fatalities. Another incident occurred on November 29, 2013, when LAM Mozambique Airlines Flight 470 crashed in Namibia, leading to 33 deaths.
The recent crash of Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243 on December 25, 2024, involving an Embraer 190, is a tragic event. While the investigation is ongoing, it’s important to note that such incidents are rare, and the Embraer 190 has been a dependable aircraft in commercial aviation.