Russian Investigative Committee to launch probe into Azerbaijani plane crash in Aktau

The case of the Embraer airplane crash in Kazakhstan's Aktau has been transferred for investigation to the central office of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation (ICRF), the Committee said on December 28.

“The criminal case initiated under Article 263 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (violation of the rules of safety of movement and operation of air transport) by the Western Interregional Investigative Directorate for Transport has been transferred for a comprehensive investigation to the Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia,” the Committee in its Telegram channel, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

The agency specified that an investigative and operational group was created, which included investigators, criminalists and experts with experience in investigating air accidents.

“Within the framework of the criminal case are taking all necessary measures to establish the circumstances of the incident and the causes of the airplane crash,” - said in the SCR.

It added that the decision was made as part of a meeting held by the head of the Investigative Committee Alexander Bastrykin in Grozny.

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 Khagan Isayev