Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243 crash: preliminary report on the investigation released

Kazakhstan's Ministry of Transport has released the preliminary report on the investigation on Azerbaijan Airlines's flight J2-8243's tragic crash. Read excerpts from the report and watch AnewZ's complete coverage.

A preliminary report on the investigation of the Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243 tragic crash near Aktau Airport in Kazakhstan on December 25th, 2024 has been released by the country’s Ministry of Transport. 

Issued under global aviation rules designed to draw lessons to prevent future accidents, rather than assigning blame or liability, this preliminary report was cautiously worded and did not say what had caused the extensive damage to the plane, including its stabilisers, hydraulics and trim systems.

However, this introductory report includes photographs displaying the port side of the fuselage tail section pierced with numerous holes as well as photos of fragments that the report described as "foreign metal objects" removed from the left stabiliser and hydraulic system.
It also specifies that electronic warfare in Grozny disrupted the navigation system of the AZAL plane before crash near Aktau.

According to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) requirements, the state investigating the accident should submit an initial factual report to ICAO and the interested parties within 30 days. 

The investigation commission formed in Kazakhstan has involved Azerbaijani representatives in the preparation of the mentioned report.

Below, excerpts from the preliminary report which validate data on the incident:

1. On December 25, 2024, the Embraer 190-100 IGW passenger aircraft, registered as 4K-AZ65 and owned by “Azerbaijan Hava Yollari” CJSC (Azerbaijan Airlines, or AZAL), was fully airworthy when it started its flight and while operating to Grozny. These airworthiness conditions, including operation of the flight control systems, were confirmed by FDR data.

2. Both engines of the aircraft were operational up until the accident. This information is also confirmed by the FDR records.

3. The aircraft lost GPS signals in the airspace of the Russian Federation, also experiencing the same failure above Grozny Airport.

4. Due to adverse weather conditions the aircraft unsuccessfully attempted to land in Grozny two times, and then the captain decided to return to Baku. Following this decision, the (CVR) recorded two external noises, occurring with 24 seconds interval, over Grozny.

5. Analysis of the CVR and FDR data showed that, 4 seconds after the first external noise the 3rd hydraulic system failed, followed by the failure of the 1st hydraulic system 6 seconds later, and the 2nd hydraulic system 21 seconds later.

6. Numerous through and blind damages were found on the fuselage, photos and video recordings were taken. The number of such damages were particularly high in the AFT part of the aircraft, including the vertical and horizontal stabilizers. Moreover, some of them were found in the left wing, and the left engine.

7. It was recorded that the damages in the fuselage were caused by foreign objects. No evidence of a bird strike was noted in the preliminary report.

8. Foreign objects that did not belong to the aircraft structure were discovered in the wreckage damages, and photos of these objects were made available to the public in the preliminary report. Additional expert examinations will be carried out to determine the exact origin of these objects.

9. At 05:13:32 UTC the aircraft lost all major flight controls, suffered cabin depressurisation, and the crew reported exploding seats in the cabin.

10. 8 minutes later, at 05:21:42, the coordinating air traffic controller conveyed to Grozny ATC the information on “Kovyor” emergency protocol, which closes airspace and reroutes incoming flights. The “Kovyor” special operation took place only after the aircraft had already suffered external impact and requested permission to land.

10. No information relating to an explosion of the oxygen cylinders is included in the preliminary report.

According to the ICAO requirements under the Chicago Convention, a final report on the causes of the accident shall be prepared within one year from the date of the accident. Relevant work on drafting the final report has already started involving authorities from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Brazil (as the manufacturer). The experts are analysing flight data recorders and wreckage materials.

On December 25th, 2024, an Azerbaijan Airlines' passenger plane tragically crashed, en route from Baku to Grozny, near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan after re-routing across the Caspian Sea from southern Russia.

Thirty-eight people - including citizens of Azerbaijan, Russia, and Kazakhstan - lost their lives, including Captain Igor  Kshnyakin, First Officer Aleksandr Kalyaninov and Chief Flight Attendant Hokuma Aliyeva.

President of Azerbaijan, H. E. Ilham Aliyev awarded them the title of National Heroes of Azerbaijan, for their bravery and professionalism saved the lives of 29 passengers, including three children.

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