Kazakhstan issues interim statement on Aktau air crash investigation
The commission investigating the AZAL air accident near Aktau, Kazakhstan, has released an interim statement on the investigation into the crash on the one-year mark, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport press service reported.
The statement pertains to the accident involving an AZAL-operated Embraer 190 aircraft (registration 4K-AZ65) that occurred on Dec. 25, 2024. It has been prepared in accordance with Standard 6.6 of Annex 13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation.
The interim statement is available on the ministry’s website.
«We inform you that, in accordance with the provisions of ICAO Annex 13, the sole purpose of an air accident investigation is to prevent similar incidents in the future. This activity is not intended to assign or determine anyone’s guilt or liability,» the release stated.
The ministry noted that Kazakhstan’s law enforcement authorities are conducting a criminal investigation in parallel with the commission’s activities. At the same time, in accordance with ICAO Standard 5.4.1 of Annex 13, the air accident investigation is conducted separately from trial or administrative proceedings aimed at determining liability.
The timeline for completing the investigation depends on the duration of all investigative activities and technical analyses. The final report will present conclusions regarding the causes of the accident and the contributing factors, as well as recommendations for enhancing flight safety.
The accident occurred on Dec. 25, 2024, near Aktau. The AZAL-operated flight was en route from Baku to Grozny, resulting in 38 fatalities out of 67 people onboard, most of whom were Azerbaijani citizens.
In early February 2025, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport released a preliminary report, stating that the aircraft had suffered multiple punctures and partial-through damages of various shapes and sizes in the rear fuselage, empennage, rudder, and elevators.
