Azerbaijan comments on Kazakhstan's preliminary report on AZAL plane crash near Aktau

The Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan issued a statement regarding the preliminary report presented by Kazakhstan on the investigation of the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) Embraer 190 passenger plane. The incident occurred on December 25, 2024, near Aktau airport, reports NewsBox.

In the statement released by the Ministry and reported by minval.az, it was emphasized that the preliminary report confirms several key points:

• The aircraft, registered under number 4K-AZ65, was fully operational on the route to Grozny, as verified by Flight Data Recorder (FDR) data.

• Both engines were functioning without technical issues up to the point of the crash, according to FDR data.

• In the airspace over Russia, including near Grozny airport, the aircraft lost GPS signals.

• Due to adverse weather conditions in Grozny, after an unsuccessful second landing attempt, the captain decided to return to Baku. Shortly after this, Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) data captured two external sounds with a 24-second interval.

• The comparison of CVR and FDR data showed a sequential failure of hydraulic systems: 4 seconds after the first external sound, the third system failed; 6 seconds later, the first system failed; and 21 seconds after, the second hydraulic system failed.

• Numerous damages were found on the fuselage, including penetrative ones, mainly around the tail section, on the vertical and horizontal stabilizers, as well as on the left wing and left engine.

• These damages were caused by external objects. The report excludes a collision with birds.

• Within the fuselage damages, foreign objects not belonging to the aircraft were discovered. Their photographs were made public. Additional analyses are planned for accurate identification.

• The main control systems failed at 05:13:32. At 05:21:42, air traffic control informed Grozny of the start of operation "Cover" (a standard procedure during threats to an aircraft).

• The preliminary report contains no information on the explosion of the oxygen tank.

The Ministry also noted that, in accordance with the ICAO Chicago Convention requirements, the final report on the crash causes should be prepared within a year from the incident. Kazakhstan and other involved states have already commenced work on it.

A reminder: the Embraer 190 aircraft of Azerbaijan Airlines crashed on December 25, 2024, near Aktau. Onboard were 62 passengers and a crew of 5. According to Kazakhstan's Ministry of Emergency Situations, 29 people survived the disaster. The investigation continues to determine all circumstances of the tragedy.