Russia continues probe into AZAL crash, Azerbaijani top diplomat says

Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister, Jeyhun Bayramov, provided an update regarding the tragic crash of Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243, revealing that contacts with Russian authorities are continuing as part of the ongoing investigation.

In a recent statement to reporters, Bayramov emphasised that "the Russian side says that the investigation is continuing," signalling that efforts are still underway to uncover the full details behind the disaster, Caliber.Az reports via domestic media.

The crash of Flight 8243, an Embraer 190AR, took place near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on December 25, 2024, during an emergency landing attempt. The flight had departed from Baku en route to Grozny and was carrying 67 people, including 62 passengers and five crew members. Tragically, 38 people lost their lives, while 29 survivors, including three crew members, managed to escape the wreckage.

Initial investigations pointed to a possible missile strike as a contributing factor. Preliminary findings indicated that the aircraft was hit by a Russian "Pantsir-S1" surface-to-air missile, which had been fired as part of an attempt to intercept a Ukrainian drone over Chechnya. While Russian officials initially downplayed the significance of the incident, subsequent inquiries confirmed that the missile strike was indeed responsible.

Moreover, investigators revealed that electronic warfare had compromised the plane's navigation systems, making it difficult for the crew to regain control during the emergency. This added complication led to severe consequences, further complicating the investigation into the cause of the crash.

As the investigation progresses, new details continue to emerge. On January 24, 2025, Caliber.Az released findings that identified the individual who fired the missile and the officer who issued the order. The report also confirmed that the strike from the Pantsir-S1 system had indeed struck the plane, solidifying earlier findings.

By Tamilla Hasanova