Last survivor of AZAL plane crash discharged from hospital

The final survivor of the tragic AZAL plane crash near Aktau has been released from Yeni Klinika Hospital in Baku, marking a significant milestone in the aftermath of the disaster.

Nurida Allahyarova, head of Yeni Klinika's press service, confirmed to Caliber.Az that the patient, a woman, had previously been in intensive care and underwent surgery following severe injuries.

"Her condition is now stable, but she will continue medical rehabilitation at the Medical Rehabilitation Center," Allahyarova stated.

The crash occurred on December 25, 2024, when Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243, an Embraer 190AR, went down near Aktau, Kazakhstan, during an emergency landing attempt. The flight was travelling from Baku to Grozny and carried 67 people, including 62 passengers and five crew members. The disaster claimed 38 lives, with 29 survivors, including three crew members. Among the passengers were 42 Azerbaijanis, 16 Russians, six Kazakhs, and three Kyrgyz nationals.

Preliminary investigations determined that the aircraft was struck by a Russian Pantsir-S1 surface-to-air missile, fired as Russian forces attempted to repel a Ukrainian drone attack over Chechnya. Initially, Moscow downplayed the incident, but growing evidence confirmed that the missile strike was responsible for the crash. On December 28, Russian President Vladimir Putin extended condolences to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who in turn demanded accountability and compensation for the victims.

Further findings, published by Caliber.Az on January 24, identified both the individual who launched the missile and the officer who authorized the attack. The investigation also revealed that before being struck, the aircraft’s navigation systems were disrupted by electronic warfare, severely hampering the crew’s ability to control the plane.

With the last hospitalized survivor now discharged, attention remains on ongoing diplomatic and legal efforts to address the tragedy and ensure accountability.

By Tamilla Hasanova