The Kremlin has declined to comment on a preliminary report on the investigation of the Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243 tragic crash and suggested waiting for final report.

“This is a preliminary report. Of course, our relevant agencies will study it with due care and attention. It is hard to comment it, from the presidential administration,” – said Kremlin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov to reporters today.

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

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.

Following to the report, Russia’s Federal Agency for Air Transport (Rosaviatsiya) has issued a statement today: “The aircraft has damages caused by external factors. At the same time, Kazakh side has not examined foreign objects discovered inside the aircraft and the Russian Federation has not yet had such an opportunity, as these elements were not transferred to us for examination.”

It insisted that Russian dispatchers offered several airports for landing but the crew did not use it.

"The report confirms the information issued before that it was crew’s decision to choose Aktau as an alternative airport for landing. The crew decided not to land at the airports of Makhachkala and Mineral Waters, suggested by Russian operators, despite their technical readiness to accept the aircraft", the agency said and added that the commission will continue its work and “conclusions about what happened will be presented in the final report."

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