Russia opens criminal investigation into Aktau air crash

Russia has initiated a criminal case following the tragic crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane in Aktau, Kazakhstan. 

The news was released by the Kremlin press service, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

In a telephone call on December 28, Russian President Vladimir Putin personally apologized to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Putin expressed his condolences for the tragic incident that occurred on December 25, involving an Azerbaijan Airlines flight travelling from Baku to Grozny. The Russian president acknowledged that the plane had been subjected to external interference — both physical and technical — while in Russian airspace, leading to the disaster.

Putin conveyed his deep condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to the survivors of the crash.

President Aliyev described the series of events, stating that the plane completely lost control due to the interference while flying in Russian airspace. He emphasized that the passengers' and crew members' survival was solely thanks to the heroism and professionalism of the pilots, who managed to execute an emergency landing.

Aliyev further pointed to the multiple holes found in the fuselage, as well as the injuries sustained by passengers and crew members from foreign particles that entered the plane during the flight. He highlighted testimonies from survivors, including flight attendants and passengers, which corroborated the claim of external interference.

Both leaders agreed on the necessity of a thorough and transparent investigation into the incident, ensuring that all details of the crash are explored. Aliyev revealed that a group of international experts, at Azerbaijan's request, has already been formed to investigate the causes of the crash. He assured that the investigation will be conducted transparently, with the public being kept updated regularly.

The crash occurred on December 25, when an Embraer aircraft operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, flying from Baku to Grozny, tragically went down near Aktau. The flight had 67 people on board, including 37 Azerbaijanis, 16 Russians, 6 Kazakhs, and 3 Kyrgyz nationals. Tragically, 38 people lost their lives, while 29 survivors were rescued.

By Tamilla Hasanova