Afghan foreign ministry expresses condolences to Azerbaijan over deadly plane crash

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan has officially extended its condolences to Azerbaijan following the tragic crash of an AZAL aircraft near Aktau.

In a meeting held between Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Afghanistan, Ilham Mamedov, and Afghanistan’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, the latter expressed his deep sympathy for the loss of lives in the crash. The meeting highlighted Afghanistan’s unwavering commitment to enhancing bilateral relations with Azerbaijan across political, economic, and social spheres, Caliber.Az report via local media.

Ambassador Mamedov expressed his gratitude to the Afghan government for the condolences, emphasizing that the gesture reflects the strong spirit of solidarity and brotherhood between the two nations. He further noted Azerbaijan’s interest in expanding both political ties and economic cooperation with Afghanistan in the future.

Mamedov also stressed the importance of strengthening bilateral relations, not only for Azerbaijan but also for Afghanistan, acknowledging the significance of such cooperation for both countries' mutual prosperity and security.

On December 25, 2024, an Embraer 190 passenger aircraft, operated by Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL), was en route from Baku to Grozny, Russia, when it suffered a catastrophic failure. The flight, carrying 67 individuals, including 37 Azerbaijanis, 16 Russians, 6 Kazakhs, and 3 Kyrgyz nationals, encountered severe technical and physical interference while in Russian airspace, leading to the loss of control. The crew, under extreme pressure, successfully diverted the aircraft toward Aktau, Kazakhstan.

Despite the dire circumstances, the swift and heroic actions of the flight crew, including the pilots and flight attendants, played a crucial role in mitigating further loss of life and minimizing the disaster’s impact. Tragically, 38 people lost their lives in the crash, but thanks to the quick response and professionalism of the crew, 29 survivors were rescued.

By Vugar Khalilov