“We know when the damage occurred, but not what caused it” - Bozumbayev on AZAL crash

Tengrinews.kz - Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev has commented on the investigation into the AZAL plane crash that occurred near Aktau in December 2024, a tragedy that claimed 38 lives.

“The preliminary investigation concluded that the aircraft sustained ‘through-penetrating damage’ due to ‘the intrusion of external objects.’ Does the investigation commission still stand by this version, or has a different theory emerged?” a journalist asked during a government briefing.

Bozumbayev confirmed that foreign object fragments were found in the aircraft’s fuselage and were fully recovered by the investigative team. These fragments have been sent to the Prosecutor General’s Office for forensic and explosive examination.

“We’re waiting for the forensic analysis to be completed. Only then can we draw definitive conclusions about what happened. During the visual inspection — and I saw it myself — there were puncture holes, which I personally examined. That’s why any conclusions will rely strictly on the results of the forensic and explosive examinations.We know when the damage occurred, but not what caused it. To answer that, we need the results of these two expert evaluations being conducted by law enforcement,” Bozumbayev said.

Tengrinews.kz also asked whether there is a timeline for when the Prosecutor General’s Office might present the results.

“It’s difficult to say. Unfortunately, Kazakhstan doesn’t possess this type of weaponry, so the Prosecutor General’s Office has sent requests to relevant foreign states,” Bozumbayev said.

The Embraer 190 aircraft operated by AZAL (Azerbaijan Airlines) was en route from Baku to Grozny when it crashed near Aktau on December 25, 2024. There were 67 people on board, including five crew members. 38 people died, while 29 survived.

Kazakhstan is leading the investigation in accordance with ICAO conventions, with participation from Azerbaijan, Russia, international experts, and representatives from Embraer.

Azerbaijani media, along with Euronews and Reuters, have published reports discussing the theory that Russian air defense systems may have been involved in the incident. This version has not been officially confirmed.

Previously, the Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan published a report with preliminary findings from the investigation into the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) aircraft, which crashed on December 25 near Aktau.