AZAL Embraer 190 Crash: Russia Urges Swift Conclusion to Kazakhstan's Air

Russia's Foreign Ministry is urging a swift conclusion to the ongoing AZAL plane crash investigation in Kazakhstan. Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that Russia expects the Kazakh commission to finalize its work soon. This will allow all remaining issues related to the tragedy to be resolved jointly. The call comes exactly one year after the fatal incident.

The Aktau Crash and Investigation Status

On December 25, 2024, an Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) Embraer 190 passenger jet crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau. The aircraft was operating flight J2-8243 from Baku to Grozny. The tragedy claimed the lives of 38 people. There were 67 people on board, including citizens from Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.

The international investigation is being led by a special commission under the Kazakh Ministry of Transport. The probe includes authorized representatives from Azerbaijan, Russia, and Brazil, as well as an observer from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Interim Report Findings and Technical Details

On the one-year anniversary, the Kazakhstan aviation commission released an interim report. The report indicated that the damage to the aircraft was presumably caused by striking elements of a warhead. Experts found the plane's hydraulic system failed after being hit by steel-based metallic objects. The commission, however, has not yet determined the origin of these fragments.

According to the report, the Embraer 190 was unable to land in Grozny due to adverse weather. The crew decided to return to Baku. Shortly after this decision, two external sounds were recorded on the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR). This was followed by the failure of all three hydraulic systems.

Political Context and International Cooperation

The Russian Foreign Ministry emphasized its full cooperation with the Kazakh body. Russian aviation authorities have responded to all inquiries from their Kazakh colleagues. Zakharova noted that Russia is committed to implementing agreements reached by the leaders of Russia and Azerbaijan.

Russia's official position attributes the disaster's root cause to "the Kiev regime’s terrorist attacks with unmanned aerial vehicles on Russian civilian infrastructure facilities." Conversely, preliminary investigation data cited by some reports suggested the aircraft was hit by a Russian Pantsir-S air defense system. This highlights a significant point of contention in the ongoing investigation.

Kazakhstan's Ministry of Transport stated that the final timeline for the investigation depends on completing all assigned studies. This is in line with ICAO Annex 13, which mandates that the sole purpose of an aircraft accident investigation is to prevent future incidents.

• The commission is awaiting the completion of work on the Central Maintenance Computer tape analysis.
• A working group is also analyzing the risk assessment for flying over or near conflict zones.
• A separate criminal investigation is being conducted by Kazakhstan's law enforcement agencies.

This tragic event underscores the critical risks to commercial aviation operating near conflict zones. The final report from the Kazakhstan aviation commission is essential for determining the cause and issuing flight safety recommendations. For more commercial aviation news and updates on global air safety, visit flying.flights. The aviation industry awaits the final findings to understand the full impact on air traffic management and risk assessment protocols.