Azerbaijan Airlines extends gratitude for solidarity and support amid Aktau aircraft tragedy VIDEO

On the occasion of December 31 - World Azerbaijanis Solidarity Day, the Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC (AZAL) has expressed gratitude to all those who showed solidarity and provided support in difficult times.

“We want to express our deep gratitude to everyone who was with us, showed solidarity and provided support during this difficult period. The tragedy was a great test for all of us. However, your words of support became a source of strength for us. We felt the love and solidarity of our people. This gives us an incentive to become stronger and heal our wounds," AZAL said referring to the Azerbaijani Embraer 190 aircraft's tragic crash in Kazakhstan's Aktau city, Caliber.Az reports. 

The AZAL passenger plane Embraer E190, operating the Baku-Grozny route, crashed on December 25, 2024, near Aktau. The crash resulted in the deaths of 38 passengers, including five crew members, out of the 67 people on board, with 29 survivors. Preliminary reports suggest that external physical and technical factors may have contributed to the crash, though the investigation is ongoing.

World Azerbaijanis Solidarity Day, observed annually on December 31, celebrates the unity and solidarity of Azerbaijanis worldwide. The holiday's origins trace back to late December 1989, when residents in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic dismantled border fences between Soviet Azerbaijan and Iran, symbolically reuniting Azerbaijanis separated for decades.

Recognizing the significance of this event, on December 16, 1991, Heydar Aliyev, then Chairman of the Supreme Assembly of Nakhchivan, declared December 31 as the Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis. This initiative was later adopted nationwide, and since 1992, the day has been celebrated as a public holiday in Azerbaijan.

The main idea of this holiday is the unity and solidarity of Azerbaijanis worldwide, respect for national and spiritual values, and a sense of belonging to the historical Motherland. Today, over 30 million Azerbaijanis reside in Iran, with significant communities in Türkiye, Russia, the United States, and various European countries.

By Khagan Isayev