Oddities, key theories, and notable passengers aboard: everything you need to know about the crash of the Baku-Grozny flight.

The plane crash of the Baku-Grozny flight continues to gather details. More videos and information about the aircraft's descent are emerging online.

When and where did the plane crash?

The Embraer 190AR operated by Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) was flying from Baku to Grozny around 8 AM Kyiv time. At some point, the aircraft's commander altered the course, officially citing fog in Grozny as the reason, and decided to divert to an alternate airport. The Akтау Airport in Kazakhstan was selected for this purpose. Following this, the plane circled the runway several times and crashed around 8:30.

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What is known about the passengers and crew members?

There were 69 individuals on board the ill-fated aircraft in Akтау, including 5 crew members from Kazakhstan's Ministry of Emergency Situations.

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The list is not exhaustive

Preliminary reports indicate that all pilots perished.

Currently, 32 survivors have been identified.

Among the passengers were 16 Russians, 10 of whom were injured.

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Additionally, citizens of Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan were on board.

According to the Russian public page Shot, one of the survivors of the plane crash in Kazakhstan is the daughter of the renowned Soviet scientist Abdul-Khamid Bisliyev, who tragically died in Grozny during the 90s.

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Other photos of the passengers:

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It has also been reported that among the passengers of the downed plane in Kazakhstan was an active flight attendant from "Ural Airlines." Ramin Agaev reportedly survived but has not yet made contact.

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Preliminary reports suggest that most of the survivors seated in the rear of the Embraer crash were located in the last seven rows. According to SHOT, 16 passengers seated in the front of the cabin were ejected from the aircraft immediately upon impact with the ground. The others, seated in the middle, perished inside.

What is known about the aircraft?

The aircraft was manufactured by the Brazilian company Embraer. The Embraer E-Jet is a family of twin-engine, medium-range, narrow-body passenger jets designed for short to medium-haul routes. It includes four variants: E-170, E-175, E-190, and E-195. The E-Jet was announced at the Le Bourget Air Show in 1999, with serial production commencing in 2002.

The ERJ-190 model (which crashed) is designed to carry between 96 and 114 passengers. The Embraer 190AR can operate flights of up to 4500 kilometers.

Main theories regarding the crash

Currently, there are two main theories:

1. The crash may have been caused by a bird strike into the engines. This theory is supported by the press secretary of "Rosaviatsiya" as well as the airline itself.
2. A source from the Russian news agency "Interfax" in emergency services indicates that a failure of one of the main systems is being considered as the primary theory. The crew sent a distress signal before disappearing from radar.

After the crash, the plane broke apart, with the tail section detaching and flipping over.

Strange findings

New photos of the fuselage of the downed aircraft revealed mysterious marks resembling punctures, which could be indicative of gunfire or explosive impact. These images immediately sparked an unconfirmed theory about the aircraft being shot down.

Additionally, a surviving passenger reported hearing a "pop" before the fall.

"However, it was unclear what and where exploded. After that, the plane began flying in a different direction," the passenger is quoted by Shot.

What is known about Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL)?

AZAL is the largest airline in Azerbaijan and the national carrier. It is a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Its headquarters is located in the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku. The airline was founded on April 7, 1992. AZAL is the first national airline established after the country gained independence.

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