Azerbaijan Airlines suspends flights to Grozny and Makhachkala until crash investigation is concluded

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) has suspended flights from Baku to Grozny and Makhachkala until the investigation into the crash of its Embraer 190 aircraft operating flight J2-8243 from Baku to Grozny is completed, Azertac news agency reported.

“Until the investigation is concluded, Azerbaijan Airlines has suspended flights on the Baku-Grozny-Baku and Baku-Makhachkala-Baku routes,” AZAL told Azertac.

“All other flights will be operated as scheduled,” Azerbaijan Airlines added.

Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243, carrying 62 passengers and five crew and flying from the Azerbaijani capital Baku to Grozny in the Russian region of Chechnya, attempted to conduct an emergency landing approximately 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) from Aktau, Kazakhstan.  

In a video posted online, the plane is seen nosediving before hitting the ground and bursting into flames near Aktau. 

Authorities said 32 survivors have been rescued.

The crew decided to reroute the plane to an alternate airfield after encountering a bird strike, according to preliminary reports.