Bird strikes may have caused Kazakhstan plane crash, first investigation reveals | World news

A preliminary investigation into the crash of an Azerbaijani airliner near Kazakhstan suggests a bird strike may have played a role in the emergency that led to the crash, in which at least 35 people are feared dead, Reuters reported, citing Russia’s aviation watchdog.

“Preliminary: after a collision with birds, due to an emergency on board, its commander decided to ‘go’ to an alternative airfield – Aktau was chosen,” Russia’s aviation watchdog said on Telegram.

The plane, flying from Azerbaijan’s Baku to Russia’s Grozny, crashed with 62 passengers and five crew members on board. According to Kazakh authorities, 32 survivors, including two children, were rescued.

Azerbaijan Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing

Azerbaijan Airlines confirmed that the plane had been forced to make an emergency landing about 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) from Aktau, and officials did not immediately provide an explanation for why the plane had crossed the Caspian Sea.

But the crash came shortly after drone strikes targeting southern Russia, and a nearby Russian airport had been closed due to ongoing drone activity, Reuters reported.

This raised questions about whether airspace restrictions could have played a role in the jet’s emergency diversion.

Authorities in Kazakhstan said a government commission had been set up to investigate what had happened, and its members were ordered to fly to the scene and ensure the families of the dead and injured got the help they needed.

Russian Prez Putin expresses condolences

President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences, as did Ilham Aliyev, the president of Azerbaijan, who had decided to return home from Russia where he was due to attend a summit on Wednesday, his office said.

Ramzan Kadyrov, the Kremlin-backed leader of Chechnya, expressed his condolences in a statement, saying some of those treated at the hospital were in an extremely serious condition and that he and others would pray for their speedy recovery.