Kazakhstan's Ministry of Transport announced preliminary investigation results of the tragic plane crash near Aktau on December 25, 2024. The international probe into the crash of the Embraer 190 aircraft operated by “Azerbaijan Airlines” has revealed new details.
Chronology of the crash and casualties
The aircraft, en route from Baku to Grozny, had a total of 67 people on board. Unfortunately, the crash resulted in:
- 38 fatalities (including 3 crew members);
- 29 survivors with injuries of varying severity.
The incident occurred during an attack by Ukrainian drones in the Caucasus region when the aircraft altered its route towards Kazakhstan over the Caspian Sea.
Expert findings: Evidence of external impact
The international commission (comprising representatives from Azerbaijan, Russia, Brazil, and ICAO) disclosed key conclusions based on site inspections:
- Plausibility of an explosion: No traces of explosives or oxygen tank explosions were found on the aircraft.
- Damage by military weapons: The report suggests that the aircraft's structure may have been damaged by elements of military weapons.
- Metal fragments: Holes in the hydraulic system pipes were identified, caused by foreign objects made from iron alloy. However, the origin of these weapons remains undetermined.
Political tensions and ongoing investigation
The incident has sparked differing speculations between Azerbaijan and Russia. Baku has unofficially suggested that the aircraft may have been shot down by a missile from Russia's air defense system. Moscow, on the other hand, has called for refraining from conclusions until the investigation is complete.
Currently, two working groups are investigating the following directions:
1. Analyzing flight safety near conflict zones.
2. Reconstructing the aircraft's hydraulic system.
When will the final report be released?
The investigation commission emphasized that conclusions will be based solely on objective facts. The final document detailing the definitive causes of the crash is expected to be published on Kazakhstan's Ministry of Transport official website by the end of 2025.
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