Kazakhstan receives full technical expert data on AZAL plane crash investigation

Kazakhstan has received all technical expert assessments required for the investigation into the crash of an aircraft operated by Azerbaijan’s leading carrier, AZAL, near Aktau in December 2024, Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev said.

Speaking to journalists, Bozumbayev noted that the investigation is ongoing with the participation of an international commission that includes Azerbaijan.

“The investigation is continuing. All necessary expert assessments from equipment manufacturers — including GPS trackers, navigation systems, and the aircraft manufacturer — have been received. We are now summarising the results, and these findings will be coordinated with the members of the commission,” he said.

He added that the commission includes experts from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia, as well as representatives from the Brazilian aerospace company Embraer and an international civil aviation agency.

“In accordance with international standards, Kazakhstan must finalise the results within the next few months. This concerns the technical aspect of the investigation,” Bozumbayev emphasised.

The crash occurred on December 25, 2024, when an Embraer 190 aircraft operated by Azerbaijan’s leading carrier, AZAL, flying route J2-8243 from Baku to Grozny, went down approximately three kilometres from Aktau in Kazakhstan.

There were 67 people on board: 42 citizens of Azerbaijan, 16 of Russia, 6 of Kazakhstan, and 3 of Kyrgyzstan.

As a result of the crash, 38 people were killed, while 29 survived.

According to preliminary findings of the investigation, the aircraft came under fire from a Russian Pantsir-S air defence system while approaching Grozny.

By Tamilla Hasanova