AZAL President: Crew's professionalism saved 29 lives

The crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) plane near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on December 25, left 29 survivors, thanks to the professionalism of the crew, according to AZAL President Samir Rzayev. Unfortunately, two pilots and a flight attendant lost their lives in the incident.

Rzayev praised the crew’s heroism, stating, "Their bravery and dedication to their duties, even in the final moments, will never be forgotten. The priority they gave to saving lives has made them heroes, and their names will be remembered in history."

The aircraft, an Embraer jet, was reported to have been fully operational, with a recent inspection in October and the flight piloted by an experienced captain with over 15,000 flying hours. Rzayev confirmed that an investigation is underway and promised to keep the public informed of the findings.

Survivors of the crash are expected to return to Azerbaijan later today, while the bodies of the deceased will be repatriated in the next two days.

"It is too early to determine the cause of the crash," Rzayev said. "The investigation is ongoing, and the black box has been recovered. Its data will be analysed as per the legal process."

The crash occurred when the Embraer plane, flying from Baku to Grozny, crashed just outside the city of Aktau. Of the 62 people on board, 37 were Azerbaijani citizens, 16 were Russian, 6 were Kazakh, 3 were Kyrgyz, and 5 were crew members. The crash claimed 38 lives, with 29 survivors, including three children.

In remembrance of the victims, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev declared December 26, 2024, as a day of national mourning in Azerbaijan. The country stands in solidarity with the families of those lost in this devastating accident.

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