Kazakh president supports Brazil as destination for flight data decoding after AZAL plane crash

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has affirmed that sending the flight recorders from the crashed Azerbaijan Airlines plane in Aktau to Brazil for decoding is the only correct decision to ensure an impartial and transparent investigation.

"The government commission has decided to send the flight recorders for decoding to Brazil, where the aircraft was manufactured. I am sure this is the only correct decision to ensure the objectivity and impartiality of the investigation," Tokayev explained in an interview with Ana Tili newspaper, Caliber.Az reports.

The crash, which occurred in late December in Mangistau Oblast, killed 38 people, including six Kazakh citizens, and left many others seriously injured. Tokayev stressed the importance of a thorough and unbiased inquiry into the cause of the tragedy.

In the wake of the crash, Tokayev highlighted Kazakhstan's effective response to the disaster, emphasizing the professionalism and quick actions of the country's emergency services.

"In such situations, every second counts. Our rescuers, medics, and police officers acted promptly, and coherently, showing professionalism and civil responsibility," he said. "Employees of the Mangistau Regional Power Grid Company, who were near the site of the tragedy, immediately came to the aid of the injured. Local residents were not left aside. Thanks to such selflessness, as many lives as possible were saved."

The president also noted the solidarity shown by the Kazakh people in response to the crash, particularly the widespread willingness of citizens to donate blood to help the victims.

"The sympathy and solidarity of our people to the victims of the plane crash are evident in the fact that many citizens rushed to donate blood," Tokayev added.

In the aftermath of the crash, a government commission has been set up to investigate the cause, with 17 international experts, including representatives from ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) and the IAC (Interstate Aviation Committee), invited to assist with the investigation.

On December 25, Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243, an Embraer E190, crashed near Aktau while en route from Baku to Grozny, Russia. The flight, which carried 67 people, including 62 passengers and five crew members, resulted in 38 fatalities, with 29 survivors. The passengers included nationals from Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.

By Tamilla Hasanova