Azerbaijan Airlines names ‘likely’ cause of plane crash

The company has suspended flights from Baku to several Russian cities after the accident near Aktau due to “potential flight safety risks”.

Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) has named “technical external interference” as the likely cause of a plane crash near Aktau, Kazakhstan, that killed dozens of passengers on December 25, 2024. Flights to several Russian cities have been suspended as the investigation continues.

The Embraer 190, operating as flight J2-8243 from Baku to Grozny, was diverted to Aktau due to heavy fog near its destination. The crash occurred while attempting an emergency landing, killing 38 of the 67 people on board. The passengers included citizens from Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.

In an official statement, AZAL pointed to “physical and technical external interference” as the preliminary cause of the crash but provided no further details.

Previously, local officials had also suggested that the tragedy may have been caused by a bird strike. There are also reports claiming that an oxygen cylinder exploded on board at the time of impact, with many passengers being rendered unconscious.

The incident is being jointly investigated by Azerbaijani and Kazakh aviation authorities. AZAL has temporarily suspended flights to several Russian cities, including Moscow and St. Petersburg, citing safety concerns.

On Friday, Russian aviation authorities revealed why the doomed Grozny-bound plane diverted to Kazakhstan. Dmitry Yadrov, head of the Russian aviation agency Rosaviatsiya, stated that the flight crew was unable to land in Grozny because the airport there was temporarily closed due to Ukrainian drone attacks. Poor weather conditions also contributed to problems on the ground, he added. Russia has expressed full readiness to cooperate with Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan in the ongoing investigation into the crash.

Azerbaijan declared December 26, 2024, a national day of mourning for the victims of the crash. President Ilham Aliyev returned to Baku from an official visit to lead an emergency meeting. A moment of silence was observed nationwide, and various cultural and sporting events were postponed in honor of those who lost their lives.

The Embraer 190, manufactured in Brazil, is a widely used regional jet. Embraer has stated it will support investigators and provide technical expertise during the inquiry.

On the day of the crash, a Ukrainian drone hit a shopping mall in the city of Vladikavkaz, with one woman killed in the explosion. Officials in Chechnya also reported a Ukrainian drone raid on Grozny, noting that all of the UAVs had been shot down.