One month after AZAL plane crash: four survivors still under care

A month has passed since the tragic crash of an Embraer 190 passenger plane operated by Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL), which occurred on December 25, 2024, near Aktau, Kazakhstan, during its Baku-Grozny route.

The Azerbaijani Ministry of Health, in cooperation with the Association for the Management of Medical Territorial Units (TƏBİB), provided an update on the current state of the crash victims, Caliber.Az reports.

The Ministry of Health reported that 17 individuals were initially hospitalized following the incident, with four patients still receiving treatment in medical facilities.

The Azerbaijani government has established a State Commission to investigate the causes of the crash, under the Order by President Ilham Aliyev. State institutions, including the Ministry of Health and TƏBIB, were directed to take the necessary actions, including ensuring the swift return of the injured citizens to Azerbaijan and providing appropriate medical care.

The 17 victims, treated at Yeni Klinika in Baku, sustained various injuries, including fractures, contusions, craniocerebral trauma, blunt chest trauma, bilateral pneumohemothorax, and respiratory failure. After thorough examination by specialized doctors, including orthopedic traumatologists, neurosurgeons, thoracic surgeons, and intensive care specialists, 12 of the 17 injured have already been discharged and are now receiving outpatient care under the supervision of local doctors.

Three individuals underwent surgeries as part of their treatment, and four patients (one man and three women) remain hospitalized. The condition of one of the patients in the intensive care unit is considered to be seriously stable, while the other three are reported to be in satisfactory condition.

The Ministry of Health continues to monitor the recovery of the injured, while the investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing.

On December 25, 2024, Azerbaijan Airlines flight 8243, an Embraer 190AR aircraft, crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, during an emergency landing attempt. The flight was en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia. Of the 67 individuals on board—62 passengers and 5 crew members—38 perished, and 29 survived. Of the five crew members, three lost their lives while two survived.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the aircraft was struck by a Russian surface-to-air missile during efforts to repel a Ukrainian drone attack over Chechnya.

On December 28, the presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan had a telephone conversation. Vladimir Putin expressed condolences and apologised to Ilham Aliyev for the tragic incident that occurred in Russian airspace. The Azerbaijani president demanded Putin bring to justice those responsible and provide compensation to Baku, as well as to the injured passengers and crew members.

By Vafa Guliyeva