Azerbaijan is observing a national day of mourning today in honor of the lives lost in the tragic crash of an AZAL passenger plane near Aktau, Kazakhstan. This solemn day was declared following a decree signed by President Ilham Aliyev.
On December 25, an Embraer plane operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, traveling from Baku to Grozny, tragically crashed near Aktau. Of the 67 people on board, 42 were Azerbaijani citizens, 16 were Russian, 6 were Kazakh, and 3 were Kyrgyz nationals. Initial reports confirm that 29 individuals survived the crash.
In response to the tragedy, President Ilham Aliyev swiftly formed a State Commission led by Prime Minister Ali Asadov to investigate the causes of the incident. A high-level Azerbaijani delegation, including the Minister of Digital Development and Transport, the Minister of Emergency Situations, the Deputy Prosecutor General, and other officials, traveled to Aktau to conduct on-site investigations.
President Aliyev also cut short his visit to Russia, where he was attending an informal CIS summit, to return to Baku. Upon his arrival, he held an urgent meeting at the airport to address the situation and ensure that all necessary measures were being taken.
World leaders, deeply shocked by the crash, have extended their heartfelt condolences to Azerbaijan and President Ilham Aliyev.
Today, 12 survivors from the crashed AZAL plane near Aktau, which was operating the Baku-Grozny route, will be transported back to Azerbaijan.
On this day of mourning, flags across the country are being flown at half-mast, and moments of silence are observed in honor of those who lost their lives.
