Four ombudsmen form working group to address aftermath of AZAL plane crash near Aktau

A working group consisting of ombudsmen from four countries has been established to address the aftermath of the tragic AZAL plane crash near Aktau, Kazakhstan, which claimed the lives of 38 people.

The group aims to ensure swift resolution for the victims and their families, including those who were injured in the crash.

The working group includes ombudsmen from Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Chechnya (Russia), the Ombudsman of Azerbaijan’s office told Caliber.Az.

The office said 27 survivors were admitted to local hospitals after the crash. Among them, 15 are Azerbaijani citizens, 8 are Russian nationals, and 3 are from Kyrgyzstan. One victim's identity remains unverified.

Of the 27 injured, 11 are in intensive care, 13 are being treated in traumatology, 2 are in neurosurgery, and one is in the surgical department. Medical teams from Kazakhstan, Russia, and Azerbaijan, who were sent to Aktau, are providing both medical and psychological support to the victims.

Azerbaijan's Ombudsman, Sabina Aliyeva, is closely monitoring the situation, which remains a top priority for her office.

The fatal crash occurred on December 25 when the Embraer 190 aircraft, operating flight J2-8243 from Baku to Grozny, crashed during an emergency landing attempt near Aktau.

At the time of the crash, President Ilham Aliyev was en route to Saint Petersburg, Russia, for an informal summit of CIS leaders. Upon learning of the incident, while still in Russian airspace, President Aliyev immediately ordered his return to Baku to oversee the national response.

The flight carried 67 people, including 62 passengers and 5 crew members. Among the passengers, 37 were Azerbaijani, 16 were Russian, 6 were Kazakh, and 3 were Kyrgyzstani. Tragically, 38 people lost their lives in the crash, while 29 survived.

The international community has rallied around Azerbaijan, with leaders and organizations from around the world offering condolences and messages of solidarity to the families of the victims.

In response to the tragedy, Azerbaijan declared December 26 as a day of mourning to honour those who lost their lives.

By Tamilla Hasanova