Moscow hopes for swift conclusion of AZAL crash investigation, says foreign ministry official

Russia has expressed hope that Kazakhstan’s investigative commission will soon conclude its probe into the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) aircraft, allowing all outstanding issues related to the tragedy to be resolved through joint efforts.

Speaking at a briefing, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Moscow expects the investigation to be completed in the near future, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

“We expect that in the near future the Kazakh commission will complete its investigation, and that together we will close all remaining questions related to this tragic incident, this tragedy. There should be no doubt about this,” Zakharova emphasized.

On December 25, 2024, Azerbaijan Airlines flight 8243, an Embraer 190AR, tragically crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, during an emergency landing attempt. The flight was en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, and carried 67 individuals, including 62 passengers and five crew members. Among the passengers, there were 42 Azerbaijanis, 16 Russians, six Kazakhs, and three Kyrgyz nationals. The crash claimed 38 lives, while 29 survivors, including two crew members, were rescued. Of the five crew members, three tragically lost their lives.

By Vafa Guliyeva