AZAL plane crash investigation enters final stage

Crash site of AZAL's passenger plane near the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan, 25 December, 2024
Kazinform

Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev announced that the final report on the Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) plane crash near Aktau last December will be completed in the coming months.

The Embraer E-190 was en route from Baku to Grozny when it was downed near the Kazakh city of Aktau. The incident led to the deaths of 38 people. Among the 67 on board, 29 survived the crash, with several sustaining serious injuries. 

The wreckage of the Embraer 190 is currently stored in a hangar in Aktau, where international experts continue their examination.

Kazakhstan's Vice Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev at government's media briefing, 7 August 2025
Kazinform

Bozumbayev said that Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport is working intensively, in cooperation with international experts from several countries as part of the ongoing investigation into the plane crash. 

“Some of the equipment is still abroad for examination but is expected to return soon. The analysis phase is nearly complete, and we are now moving toward the preparation of the final report, which is expected to be finalized in the coming months,” he stated as Kazinfom reported.

In addition,  he noted that law enforcement agencies are conducting an explosive technical examination.

“I do not want to politicize this issue; it is simply a matter of how the damage occurred,” Bozumbayev said. “The explosive technical examination, conducted by law enforcement agencies, will provide the answers. As far as I know, requests have been sent to other countries that use weapons with similar striking elements found on the plane’s fuselage. I’m confident that by the end of the year, all necessary procedures will be completed thoroughly and accurately.”

According to an investigative report by local media outlet Minval Politika, a Russian general allegedly ordered the missile strike that brought down an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane last December.

Recently Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated that Azerbaijan is preparing to pursue legal action against Russia in international courts. Azerbaijani officials claim the strike violated international aviation norms and are seeking accountability through legal channels.

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