Kazakhstan awards 70 for bravery in AZAL plane crash response PHOTO

A group of Kazakh emergency responders, medical professionals, police officers, and airport and utility company employees have received state honours for their role in rescuing passengers of an Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) plane that crashed in Kazakhstan.

The Mangystau Region’s administration announced that Nurdaulet Kilybay, the governor of the region, awarded medals, orders, and certificates of appreciation to 70 individuals in a special ceremony. These awards were issued under a decree by Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Caliber.Az reports, citing Kazakh media.

Among the honorees, 19 individuals were presented with state orders and medals, while 51 others received letters of gratitude from the president. The recipients include members of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, healthcare workers, police officers, employees of the Mangystau Regional Electric Grid Company, and staff of Aktau International Airport.

To recall, on December 25, 2024, an AZAL passenger plane travelling from Baku to Grozny crashed near the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan. Of the 67 people on board, 38 lost their lives, while 29 survived. Preliminary investigations point to the possibility of external physical and technical interference as factors contributing to the crash.

By Khagan Isayev