Astana continues investigation into AZAL crash
The Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan is not stopping the investigation into the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) plane near Aktau airport in 2024.
The agency will adhere to procedures and will publish a report with findings and recommendations based on the results of the investigation, the Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan told TASS.
"At present, the commission investigating the aviation incident involving the Embraer 190 4K-AZ65 aircraft of Azerbaijan Airlines continues its work in accordance with the standards and recommended practices established by Annex 13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation. Upon completion of the investigation, the final report will be published on the official website of the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan," the agency stated in response to a question about whether the investigation is planned to continue or be terminated following statements from foreign affairs ministries.
"The report will reflect the established causes of the aviation incident, as well as the commission's conclusions and recommendations," the ministry said.
On December 25, a passenger Embraer 190 aircraft operating flight J2 8243 from Baku to Grozny by Azerbaijan Airlines made an emergency landing 3 km from the city of Aktau in the Republic of Kazakhstan. As a result of the disaster, 38 people died, and 29 were injured.
On April 15, a joint statement was issued by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan and Russia.
The statement reads that, in accordance with the agreements reached at the meeting of the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Russia in Dushanbe on October 9, 2025, the parties agreed on the proper settlement of the consequences, including the issue of compensation payments, in connection with the crash of the Embraer 190 aircraft belonging to AZAL near the city of Aktau on December 25, 2024, as a result of unintentional action by an air defense system in the airspace of the Russian Federation. The statement also notes: "The steps taken confirm the mutual desire to further build mutually beneficial cooperation within the framework of allied interaction."
"We express confidence that the progressive development of Russian-Azerbaijani relations based on mutual respect, trust, and consideration of the interests of the parties will continue to contribute to the strengthening of good-neighborly relations and the expansion of cooperation in the interests of the peoples of the two states."
"We once again offer our deepest condolences to the families and friends of those who perished in the aircraft crash and share the pain of irreparable loss with all those affected by the tragedy."
