On December 25, an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger aircraft crashed near Aktau City in Kazakhstan. The ERJ-190 jet, originally scheduled to fly from Baku, Azerbaijan to Grozny, Russia, was forced to divert to Aktau's alternate airport after engine damage caused by a bird strike. The aircraft ultimately crashed approximately 3 kilometers from the airport.

The aircraft carried105 passengers and 5 crew members. According to Kazakhstan's Ministry of Emergency Situations, the accident has resulted in multiple casualties. Currently, 28 survivors have been confirmed, with 26 transported to hospitals for treatment, including two children. Survivors sustained serious injuries, and rescue operations are ongoing.  

Azerbaijan Airlines stated that preliminary investigations indicate the incident may have been caused by birds entering the engines, though the exact cause remains to be confirmed following analysis of the black box data. At the time of the crash, the aircraft circled multiple times over Aktau Airport while transmitting distress signals but ultimately failed to land successfully.

Kazakhstan's health authorities and rescue personnel are working around the clock to treat the injured, while an investigation into the cause of the accident is underway. Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has expressed condolences to the families of the victims and is monitoring the treatment of survivors.