Russian Health Ministry provides update on condition of injured in Aktau plane crash

Two Russians remain in serious condition following the crash of an Embraer E-190 aircraft operated by Azerbaijan Airlines near the Kazakh city of Aktau on December 25.

According to Alexei Kuznetsov, assistant to the head of the Russian Health Ministry, the nine Russian nationals who were injured in the crash are being treated at federal medical centres and the Moscow Health Department's hospital, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

Kuznetsov explained that the condition of two of the injured remains serious, while four others, including a child, are in stable but medium condition. Three more victims are recovering with light injuries, and their conditions are assessed as stable. He confirmed that all victims are receiving full medical care and attention.

The crash occurred when the aircraft, which was en route from Baku to Grozny, went down near Aktau, with 67 people on board, including 37 Azerbaijanis, 16 Russians, 6 Kazakhs, and 3 Kyrgyz nationals. Tragically, 38 people lost their lives in the incident, while 29 survivors were rescued.

In addition to the health ministry’s update, Nurlan Botagarin, a serviceman from Kazakhstan's air defence base near Aktau, shared his account of the rescue efforts. Botagarin, a contract serviceman of military unit 30153, was on duty when he noticed the plane flying erratically. Recognizing that something was wrong, he immediately drove to the crash site to assist.

Botagarin recalled seeing the aircraft go down and initially thinking it was a small plane with about 10 people aboard. However, upon reaching the wreckage, he discovered there were many more passengers. He was shocked to find a young girl in a white dress, her head covered in blood. Despite the trauma of the scene, he acted quickly, opening the back door of the plane to start pulling people out.

As Botagarin worked to rescue the passengers, emergency services arrived at the site. Firefighters began extinguishing the flames, and medical teams began evacuating survivors. Botagarin expressed his belief that it was not only his military duty but also his civic responsibility to help.

Botagarin, a 29-year-old resident of Aktau and a native of the village of Borankul, emphasized that he did everything he could to assist the victims. He is now raising two daughters with his wife.

By Tamilla Hasanova