Kazakhstan to conduct unscheduled inspections of airports following AZAL flight crash

In the wake of the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) aircraft near Aktau airport, the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan has announced plans to conduct unscheduled inspections of airports and aircraft across the country.

The inspections will also include a thorough assessment of flight crew training and qualifications, Caliber.Az reports citing Russian media.

According to a statement from Kazakhstan's Ministry of Transport, these audits are being carried out in response to instructions from Kazakhstan's Prime Minister, Olzhas Bektenov. The ministry emphasized that the unscheduled checks will focus on the technical condition of both airports and aircraft, as well as the qualifications, certifications, and overall competence of flight crews operating Kazakh airlines.

The decision comes after Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev addressed the incident in a meeting on December 28, 2024. Tokayev highlighted the importance of reviewing the state of aviation safety across the country following the crash.

The tragic crash occurred on December 25 when an Embraer 190 aircraft, operating flight J2-8243 from Baku to Grozny, crashed while attempting an emergency landing near Aktau. The flight had 67 people on board, including 62 passengers and five crew members. Passengers included 37 Azerbaijani, 16 Russian, 6 Kazakh, and 3 Kyrgyzstani nationals.

The crash claimed the lives of 38 people, while 29 survived.

By Vafa Guliyeva