Azerbaijani president heads back to Baku after receiving news of AZAL plane crash

The plane carrying President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, has landed at Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku.

President Aliyev had travelled to Russia to attend the informal summit of CIS heads of state in Saint Petersburg. Upon receiving news of the Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) plane crash near the Kazakh city of Aktau, the president immediately instructed his return to Azerbaijan, Caliber.Az reports.

13:21

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who has left for Russia to attend the informal summit of CIS heads of state in Saint Petersburg, was informed of a plane crash while still in Russian airspace.

Upon receiving the news, the president immediately gave instructions to return to Baku, Caliber.Az reports citing local media.

While aboard the plane, President Aliyev directed the relevant state authorities to launch an investigation into the causes of the crash and to take urgent actions in response.

The head of state is personally overseeing all matters related to the crash, ensuring that the situation remains under control.

President sets up state commission to investigate causes of plane crash

Under the instruction of President Ilham Aliyev, a state commission with the following composition has been set up to investigate the causes of the plane crash.

Chairman - Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Ali Asadov.

Commission members:

Shahin Mustafayev - Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan;

Rashad Nabiyev - Minister of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan;

Samir Rzayev - President of Azerbaijan Airlines Closed Joint Stock Company;

Jeyhun Bayramov - Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan;

Kamran Aliyev - Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan;

Vilayat Eyvazov - Minister of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan;

Ali Naghiyev - Head of the State Security Service of Azerbaijan;

Kamaladdin Heydarov - Minister of Emergency Situations of Azerbaijan;

Teymur Musayev - Minister of Health of Azerbaijan;

Sahil Babayev - Minister of Labour and Social Protection of Population of Azerbaijan;

Arif Mammadov - Director of the State Civil Aviation Agency under the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan.

Earlier today, on December 25, an Embraer 190 aircraft of Azerbaijan Airlines, operating Baku-Grozny flight No. J2-8243, crashed in Aktau.

A total of 67 people were onboard the Azerbaijan Airlines flight, including 62 passengers and 5 crew members, according to a statement from AZAL’s press service. 

Among those aboard the plane were 37 Azerbaijan nationals, 16 Russian citizens, six from Kazakhstan, and three from Kyrgyzstan. Emergency personnel, including 52 members of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations and 11 units of equipment, have arrived at the crash site to assist in the recovery operation.

By Vafa Guliyeva