Kazakhstan has vowed to speed up its investigation into the Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) crash near Aktau, as mounting diplomatic pressure and geopolitical tensions push the disaster further into the international spotlight.
The commitment, announced by the Ministry of Transport, comes as the official commission presses ahead with its examination of expert assessments and detailed technical reports into the crash of an Embraer 190 operated by Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL).
Although no firm deadline has been set for publication of the final report, the authorities say every effort is being made to conclude the inquiry as swiftly as possible without compromising its integrity.
According to the ministry, investigators are reviewing completed examinations and analysing materials submitted by specialists. Officials have stressed that the commission is taking a measured approach and that its conclusions will be objective and based solely on verified evidence.
Transport Minister Nurlan Sauranbayev has previously indicated that the final report will be issued only after data from two foreign laboratories has been received. Those results remain outstanding. Meanwhile, a modular avionics unit recovered from the aircraft has been sent to U.S.-based manufacturer Honeywell International for technical examination.
The move, confirmed by Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev, who chairs the investigative commission, underlines both the complexity of the case and its international dimension.
The aircraft, operating the Baku–Grozny route, crashed on 25 December 2024 while attempting an emergency landing near Aktau Airport. Of the 67 people on board, 38 were killed and 29 survived.
From the outset, the incident assumed significance beyond that of an aviation accident. Azerbaijani authorities pointed to debris which they said indicated possible external damage and called for a political and legal assessment of Russia’s actions.
The issue gained further international prominence on 9 October 2025, when Russian President Vladimir Putin said the aircraft had been within the operational range of Russian air defence systems. He stated that two missiles detonated near the aircraft while intercepting an attack by Ukrainian drones, which ultimately resulted in the crash.
The statement has become a pivotal element in the ongoing international review, as it constitutes a direct acknowledgement of military activity in the vicinity of the aircraft at the time of the disaster. Russia has also expressed its willingness to provide additional information to investigators and to offer compensation to those affected.
Diplomatic ramifications have since grown more pronounced. During a meeting on 2 March 2026 with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk said Moscow and Baku had agreed on further steps related to the disaster.
While no details of the discussions were disclosed, the acknowledgement of coordinated measures signalled that the issue had firmly entered the realm of high-level interstate dialogue.
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