Kazakhstan announces ongoing study of decoded AZAL flight data

Kazakhstan has received the decoded data from the flight recorders of the crashed Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) plane and is currently conducting an in-depth analysis of the findings, according to a statement from the Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan.

The ministry confirmed that the decoded flight data has arrived in Kazakhstan and is now being examined by specialists, Caliber.Az reports via Kazakh media.

In line with international standards, a commission has been set up to examine the facts and details of the crash, and it is expected to publish a preliminary report soon. "The commission, in accordance with ICAO’s Annex 13 standards, will publish a preliminary report after a detailed study of all facts and materials, providing established factual information and the progress of the investigation," the ministry's press service explained.

The black boxes were initially sent to Brazil for analysis. The Brazilian Air Force’s Aviation Accident Investigation and Prevention Center (CENIPA) confirmed on January 7 that they had successfully completed the decoding process. "The extraction, collection, and verification of data from the two flight recorders have been completed successfully," CENIPA reported. CENIPA, with its expertise in dealing with Embraer aircraft, utilized advanced technologies to decode the data efficiently.

The reason the flight recorders were sent to Brazil was due to the fact that the aircraft, an Embraer 190AR, was manufactured by the Brazilian company Embraer. According to the international aviation industry’s standards, it is common practice to send flight recorders to the manufacturer’s country for detailed analysis, as manufacturers typically possess the most relevant knowledge and technologies related to their aircraft.

The crash of Azerbaijan Airlines flight 8243 occurred during an emergency landing attempt near Aktau, Kazakhstan. The flight, which was travelling from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, carried 67 people, including 62 passengers and five crew members. Among the passengers were 42 Azerbaijanis, 16 Russians, six Kazakhs, and three Kyrgyz nationals. Tragically, 38 people lost their lives, while 29 survivors, including two crew members, were rescued. 

The initial investigations suggest that the plane was struck by a Russian surface-to-air missile while Russian forces were attempting to intercept a Ukrainian drone over Chechnya. As the investigation continues, authorities are working to confirm the exact cause of the crash.

On December 28, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed condolences to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, apologizing for the incident, which occurred in Russian airspace. In response, President Aliyev called for those responsible to be brought to justice and requested compensation for Azerbaijan, as well as for the families of the deceased and the injured passengers and crew members.

By Tamilla Hasanova