UPDATE - Kazakhstan releases interim report on AZAL plane crash investigation on 1st anniversary

ADDS BACKROUND

By Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA)— Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport released an interim statement Thursday on the anniversary of an Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) accident near Aktau, saying the plane was likely damaged by a warhead.

The report stated that "damage to the aircraft was presumably caused by striking elements of a warhead," though investigators have yet to determine where the fragments came from.

Experts found that the plane's hydraulic system failed after being hit by steel-based metallic objects, which caused the metal to rupture.

The commission is also looking into whether the airline followed proper safety rules for flying near conflict zones.

The accident happened on Dec. 25, 2024, involving an Embraer 190 aircraft flying from Baku to Grozny.

Out of those on board, 38 people died, and 29 others were injured. Investigators from Azerbaijan, Russia, Brazil, and the US are helping Kazakhstan with the ongoing probe.

Last year, Azerbaijani officials claimed the plane was hit by a missile while flying through the region. Since the crash, Baku has called for a full investigation into air defense activity in the area at the time of the flight.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said in July that Baku would "apply to international justice" and had also informed Russia of this.

In response, the Kremlin said it is Azerbaijan's right to file a lawsuit against Moscow and that Russia "will wait for official verdicts," noting that both countries have entered a "difficult period" in bilateral relations.

Later in October, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow will do everything possible to provide compensation, and that Russia is assisting the investigation in any way it can.