Russia's investigative committee appoints expert examination in AZAL plane crash case

The Investigative Committee of Russia has announced the appointment of a comprehensive expert examination into the actions of air traffic controllers in the ongoing investigation of the tragic crash of an Embraer-E190 aircraft belonging to Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) on December 25, 2024.

According to Svetlana Petrenko, the official representative of the Russian Investigative Committee, authorities are closely collaborating with the competent agencies of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan in the investigation, Caliber.Az reports.

Experts from the Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) are working together to analyze data obtained from the flight data recorders recovered from the Brazilian Aeronautical Accidents Investigation and Prevention Center (CENIPA).

The investigation also examines the communications between air traffic controllers in Grozny, Makhachkala, and Mineralnye Vody and the aircraft's crew. A comprehensive aviation-technical expert examination has been commissioned, focusing on the condition of the aircraft's systems and physical evidence related to the crash.

Petrenko emphasized that an additional organizational-technical forensic examination would be conducted to assess the actions of air traffic control services, the air traffic management system, and air defence protocols. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to gather evidence and analyze the circumstances surrounding this devastating accident.

The crash of Azerbaijan Airlines flight 8243 occurred during an emergency landing attempt near Aktau, Kazakhstan. The flight, which was travelling from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, carried 67 people, including 62 passengers and five crew members. Among the passengers were 42 Azerbaijanis, 16 Russians, six Kazakhs, and three Kyrgyz nationals. Tragically, 38 people lost their lives, while 29 survivors, including two crew members, were rescued. 

The initial investigations suggest that the plane was struck by a Russian surface-to-air missile while Russian forces were attempting to intercept a Ukrainian drone over Chechnya. As the investigation continues, authorities are working to confirm the exact cause of the crash.

On December 28, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed condolences to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, apologizing for the incident, which occurred in Russian airspace. In response, President Aliyev called for those responsible to be brought to justice and requested compensation for Azerbaijan, as well as for the families of the deceased and the injured passengers and crew members.

By Vugar Khalilov