Official: Kazakhstan nears conclusion of AZAL plane crash investigation

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport is nearing the conclusion of its investigation into the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash that occurred near Aktau on December 25, 2024, Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev confirmed to Kazakh media.

Bozumbayev noted that two separate investigations were launched following the accident.

“One is the criminal investigation, which is being conducted by the General Prosecutor’s Office in coordination with Russian colleagues. The second pertains to the Ministry of Transport, which is now in its final phase,” he explained. “We are currently waiting for the final conclusions from the licensors or technology owners regarding aeronautical instruments and other systems. In principle, the Ministry of Transport may be ready to finalise the investigation either this year or at the beginning of next year,” Bozumbayev added while speaking in the corridors of the Majilis (parliament).

He also indicated that progress has been made in the criminal investigation. “You have seen statements by the leaders of neighbouring states. Therefore, we hope that this investigation will also be completed next year,” Bozumbayev said.

The crash occurred during a flight from Baku to Grozny, carrying 69 people, including five crew members. Among the passengers were 42 Azerbaijani citizens, 15 Russians, six Kazakh citizens, and three Kyrgyz nationals. Tragically, 38 people lost their lives, including three crew members, while 29 people, including two crew members, survived.

Preliminary findings suggested that the aircraft had been struck by a Russian Pantsir-S1 surface-to-air missile amid Russian air defence operations aimed at repelling a Ukrainian drone attack over Chechnya.

Brazil completed the decryption of the plane’s black boxes on January 7, and a preliminary report was released by Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport on February 4. The report included a detailed chronology of events and photographs documenting the damage sustained by the aircraft.

According to a report by Caliber.Az on January 24, both the officer who ordered the missile launch and the individual who fired it had been identified. The report confirmed the initial conclusion that the aircraft had indeed been hit by a Pantsir-S1 missile. Investigators also determined that, prior to being struck, the airliner had been affected by electronic warfare (EW) systems, which disrupted its navigation equipment and severely hindered the crew’s ability to control the plane.

Most recently, on October 9, during a meeting with President Ilham Aliyev, President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia would conduct a legal assessment of the actions of all officials involved in the incident.

By Tamilla Hasanova