Kazakh deputy PM: International experts to join Azerbaijani plane crash investigation

A briefing with Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev, who heads the government commission investigating the cause of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash has started in Aktau.

"Representatives from Embraer are expected to arrive in Aktau on December 27," Bozumbayev stated during the briefing, Caliber.Az reports, citing Kazakh media.

Later, in an interview with Tengrinews.kz, Bozumbayev emphasized that the investigation into the plane crash near Aktau is ongoing.

He noted that officials do not plan to respond to media claims regarding the cause of the plane crash, as they do not understand the sources of this information.

"We cannot confirm or deny any version. The investigation is ongoing," he said. 

The deputy prime minister also mentioned that specialists from the CIS International Aviation Committee, as well as representatives from Embraer and Brazil's aviation authorities, will arrive in Kazakhstan on December 27.

"They will be included in the commission investigating the aviation incident, which is headed by our chief of the department of the Transport Ministry. According to the regulations, they will begin their work accordingly. At the same time, the police and prosecution are conducting forensic expertise. Therefore, it is too early to comment on anything at this stage. This is pure hype," Bozumbayev noted.

He stressed that law enforcement agencies from Russia and Azerbaijan will be allowed to participate in the investigation of the plane crash near Aktau.

"Law enforcement agencies from Russia and Azerbaijan will not be involved in the criminal investigation, but they will be allowed to participate in the investigation of the aviation incident," he added.

The crash occurred on December 25, when an Embraer aircraft operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, en route from Baku to Grozny, tragically crashed near Aktau. The plane was carrying 67 people, including 37 Azerbaijanis, 16 Russians, 6 Kazakhs, and 3 Kyrgyz nationals. Sadly, 38 people lost their lives in the crash, with 29 survivors. In response, President Ilham Aliyev declared a day of mourning in Azerbaijan on December 26 to honour those lost in the tragedy.

By Naila Huseynova