Russia opens expert investigation into Azal plane crash

The Russian Investigative Committee has announced the initiation of a comprehensive expert examination into the actions of air traffic controllers in connection with the tragic crash of an Embraer-E190 aircraft belonging to Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) on December 25, 2024.

The investigation, as reported by Svetlana Petrenko, the official representative of the committee, is being carried out in collaboration with Azerbaijani and Kazakh authorities.

Experts from the Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) are analyzing data from the flight data recorders, which were recovered by the Brazilian Aeronautical Accidents Investigation and Prevention Center (CENIPA). Investigators are also examining communications between air traffic controllers in Grozny, Makhachkala, and Mineralnye Vody and the aircraft's crew.

Aviation-technical examinations are being conducted to assess the aircraft's systems and physical evidence related to the crash. Additionally, a forensic examination will be performed to evaluate the actions of air traffic control services, the management system, and air defense protocols.

The flight, which was traveling from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, was forced to make an emergency landing near Aktau, Kazakhstan. Tragically, 38 people lost their lives, and 29 passengers and crew members survived, including two crew members. Investigations indicate that the plane was hit by a Russian surface-to-air missile as part of an attempt to intercept a Ukrainian drone over Chechnya.

The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to confirm the exact cause of the crash. On December 28, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed condolences to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, offering an apology for the incident, while President Aliyev called for justice and compensation for the victims.