Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190AR plane is shot down
Aktau, Kazakhstan
Updated on
The Embraer ERJ-190 operated by Azerbaijan Airlines took off from Baku, Azerbaijan, for a passenger flight to Grozny, Russia. 62 passengers and 5 crew members were onboard. The aircraft had diverted from Grozny to Aktau, Kazakhstan, due to low visibility and attempted an emergency landing at Aktau's airport about one hour after the aborted approach to Grozny. The aircraft was turning onto final approach when it impacted ground. The plane burst into flames. 38 occupants were killed, and 29 occupants survived.
The crew had declared an emergency minutes before the accident. They experienced problems controlling the aircraft. Radar data showed the aircraft having fluctuating altitude and speed data. The aircraft collided with terrain in a right wing low, nose down altitude. It crashed at about 3km (1.6 NM) from Aktau's Airport. The main cabin area was consumed by fire. The tail section came to rest upside down away from the main wreckage and was free of fire damage.
A survivor reported hearing an explosion during the descent or approach and observed shrapnel puncturing his life vest. Post-accident video footage revealed multiple small holes in the vertical and horizontal stabilizer. Additionally, a photograph taken shortly before the accident showed a rear service door open while the Embraer ERJ-190 was still in flight, a detail later confirmed in post-flight images. These findings strongly suggest that the aircraft was struck by a missile, causing severe damage to its rear section.
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Since year 2000, 8 commercial or transport planes have been voluntary or mistakenly shot by missiles. Watch here the list of those airplanes shot by missiles since year 2000.