The aircraft was en route from Baku in Azerbaijan to the Russian sub-republic of Chechnya when it was diverted for some reason. First to Makhachkala in Russia, then to Aktau in Kazakhstan, on the other side of the Caspian Sea.
The plane then tried to make an emergency landing three kilometers from the coastal city of Aktau, but crashed. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyevs believes that the plane must have changed its course due to deteriorating weather conditions.
“He really didn’t want to go”
Kazakh authorities state that 38 people died in the crash. At the airport in Baku, several relatives of those who were on the plane were waiting to get information.
Vugar Ismayilov, tells Radio Free Europe that he left his friend at the airport this morning, who flew with the plane.
– He was going to Daghestan for work and it was the first time he traveled there. He really didn’t want to go, says Vugar Ismayilov, who has not received any news about his friend.
Nezaket Bayramova, whose sister was on the plane, has also not received any information.
– I know nothing. The only thing I heard is that a bird must have flown into the plane, she says to the newspaper Turan.
Volunteers helped
When the plane crashed, people who were nearby went there to try to save lives.
– We ran towards the place, pulled out people from the back, who had split up, Elmira tells Radio Free Europe.
She says a child cried and shouted “Save my mother! She is there!” and that several pleaded for help.
– Ambulances soon arrived and we handed over the injured. I’m shocked now and can’t get the scenes out of my head, says Elmira.
Uncertainty about the cause
A tachograph has been recovered intact and the authorities in both Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan have launched an investigation. It is still unclear what caused the accident, but there are unconfirmed reports of dense fog or a bird strike.
On board the plane were passengers from Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, according to Kazakh authorities.