Kazakh, Azerbaijani officials gather to honour AZAL crash victims PHOTO

Aktau held a solemn ceremony to honour the memory of those who lost their lives in the tragic crash of an AZAL (Azerbaijan Airlines) plane on December 25, 2024.

The commemoration was organized jointly by the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Kazakhstan and the Akimat (administration) of the Mangistau region, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

The event saw the participation of high-ranking officials, including Nurdaulet Kilybay, Akim (governor) of the Mangistau region, Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan Alim Bael, Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Kazakhstan Agalar Atamoglanov, and Azerbaijan’s Consul General in Aktau Aikhan Suleymanli. Additionally, representatives of the Azerbaijani diaspora, members of rescue teams involved in the emergency response, and local residents gathered to pay their respects.

During the ceremony, Akim Nurdaulet Kilybay extended his heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the victims. He highlighted that, following the instructions of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, a governmental commission was swiftly established to investigate the causes of the crash, address its aftermath, and provide support to the victims' families. He also noted that the Kazakh authorities, including the Mangistau regional administration, had taken all necessary measures to manage the crisis effectively.

Kilybay also expressed his deep appreciation for the efforts of the rescue teams, medical workers, and all Kazakh citizens who demonstrated solidarity and compassion in the wake of the disaster.

Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Alim Bael, emphasized the strengthening ties between the two nations, stating that relations between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan have reached a true alliance level. He underlined the strategic importance of both countries, which are located on opposite shores of the Caspian Sea, as key players in the Turkic world and crucial links in the Eurasian transport and logistics system.

The ceremony served as a moment of remembrance and solidarity, reflecting the strong partnership between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan as they continue to support one another in times of tragedy.

To recall, on December 25, 2024, Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243, an Embraer 190AR aircraft, crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, during an emergency landing attempt. The flight was travelling from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia. Out of the 67 people on board — 62 passengers and 5 crew members — 38 tragically died, while 29 survived. Among the crew, three lost their lives, and two survived.

On February 4, Reuters reported that the Azerbaijani aircraft was hit by a Russian Pantsir-S air defence system. An Azerbaijani government source confirmed this information, stating that a fragment of a Pantsir-S missile was recovered from the wreckage and identified through international expertise.

This finding fully corroborates earlier reports by Caliber.Az, which stated that the aircraft was shot down by a Russian Pantsir-S system.

By Tamilla Hasanova