Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan has released a report outlining the preliminary findings of the investigation into the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) aircraft near Aktau.

The document reveals that the main sources of the fire on the aircraft were the right wing, the nose and central parts of the fuselage, and the left wing. Experts discovered numerous open and unclear damages of various sizes and shapes on the tail section of the fuselage, the vertical stabilizer, and the rudder. Similar damages were found on the aircraft's left engine, left wing, as well as on the aircraft's parts and components.

In some areas, the damages were rectangular in shape. The report also includes previously unpublished photos.

The document states that the Embraer 190-100 IGW passenger aircraft, registered under the number 4K-AZ65 and owned by Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL), was in fully airworthy condition when it took off and throughout the flight segment up to Grozny. It is emphasized that the aircraft’s airworthiness, including its control systems, was confirmed through data from the Flight Data Recorder (FDR).

Additionally, the report reveals that the "Kovyor" plan was activated 8 minutes after the Azerbaijani aircraft was struck.

In general aviation, the "Kovyor" plan is referred to as the restricted airspace regime. This requires all aircraft (with some exceptions) in the air to immediately land or exit the covered area. Pilots who are aware of the implementation of this regime in the airspace are promptly directed to alternate airports.

The preliminary report also notes that the investigation does not aim to identify the perpetrators or distribute responsibility.

The information presented in this report is preliminary and may be clarified or supplemented based on the findings of the investigation and a thorough review of all materials. After the investigation is concluded, a Final Report on the aviation accident will be prepared.

At the same time, the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan has released information regarding the preliminary report of the investigation.

The Ministry stated that on December 25, 2024, the Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) Embraer 190-100 IGW passenger aircraft, registered under the number 4K-AZ65 and operating flight J2-8243 from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, crashed near Aktau Airport in the Republic of Kazakhstan. As a result of the crash, two crew members (the captain and the second pilot), a senior flight attendant, and 35 passengers lost their lives. Despite the fatalities and injuries, thanks to the high professionalism, bravery, and courage of the pilots and attendants, the aircraft managed to perform an emergency landing, saving the lives of 29 people. After the information regarding the expected emergency landing in Kazakhstan was received, the necessary rescue operations were immediately carried out, and the survivors were evacuated and provided with medical assistance.

In accordance with Annex 13 of the 1944 Chicago Convention, supported by Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan, as the state where the incident occurred, has begun the investigation. The purpose of this investigation is to ensure the safety of flights and aviation operations, and it does not focus on identifying those responsible. The results of the investigation aim to determine the objective causes of the accident in accordance with international aviation standards and to provide recommendations to the ICAO and relevant parties to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The Republic of Azerbaijan, as the operator and owner of the aircraft, has participated in the investigation. Azerbaijani representatives have been involved in all stages of the investigation, including the inspection of the crash site, the provision of photo and video footage for documenting the facts, and the reading of data from the aircraft’s black boxes (CVFDR equipment) at the Brazilian Center for the Investigation and Prevention of Aviation Accidents (CENIPA). They have also assisted in gathering additional information and evidence.

For reference, the CVR (Cockpit Voice Recorder) records radio transmissions and sounds in the cockpit, such as the voices of the pilots and background noise, while the FDR (Flight Data Recorder) tracks essential flight parameters such as time, altitude, speed, course, and the aircraft’s position. The Embraer 190-100 IGW aircraft was equipped with two CVFDR devices that combined both functions.

In accordance with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the state investigating the crash is required to submit a report containing initial factual information to the ICAO and relevant parties within 30 days. The investigation commission established in Kazakhstan has involved Azerbaijani representatives in the preparation of this report. The preliminary report confirms the following facts:

1. On December 25, 2024, the Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) Embraer 190-100 IGW passenger aircraft, registered under the number 4K-AZ65, operating flight J2-8243 from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, was in fully airworthy condition when it took off and throughout the flight segment up to Grozny. The airworthiness of the aircraft, including its control systems, was confirmed through data from the Flight Data Recorder (FDR).
2. Both engines of the aircraft operated without any technical issues up until the moment of the crash. This information was confirmed through the FDR.
3. The aircraft experienced a loss of GPS signals while operating in the airspace of the Russian Federation, including over Grozny Airport.
4. After the aircraft was unable to perform a second landing over Grozny due to unfavorable weather conditions, the captain decided to return to Baku. Following this decision, an extraneous sound was recorded on the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) twice, with a 24-second interval, over Grozny.
5. A comparison of the CVR and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) data revealed that, four seconds after the first foreign noise, the third hydraulic system failed, followed by the failure of the first hydraulic system six seconds later, and the second hydraulic system 21 seconds after that.
6. It was found that there were numerous punctured and blind damage marks on the aircraft’s fuselage, which were documented with both photos and video. These damages were located on the rear part of the fuselage, particularly on the vertical and horizontal stabilizers, as well as on the left wing and left engine.
7. Information was provided indicating that the damages found on the fuselage were caused by the impact of external objects. The preliminary report does not provide any information suggesting a bird strike with the aircraft.
8. Foreign objects not belonging to the aircraft in the blind damage of the aircraft wreckage were detected and removed, and photographs of these foreign objects were presented to the public in the text of the initial report. Additional examinations are planned to be conducted in the future to determine the exact identity of the discovered foreign objects.
9. At 05:13:32 UTC, the aircraft’s primary control systems were lost. At 05:21:42 UTC, the coordinating dispatcher informed Grozny about the "Kovyor" operation.
10. No information has been recorded regarding the explosion of the oxygen bottle.

Extracts from photos, as well as audio and digital recording devices, confirming the facts listed here, have been included in the text of the preliminary report.

BMAT's Chicago Convention requirements state that after the preparation of the preliminary report, a final report on the causes of the accident must be prepared within one year from the date of the incident. Work on preparing this final report has already begun, with Kazakhstan and other participating states involved in the investigation.

The AZAL passenger plane operating the Baku-Grozny flight crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on December 25 last year. Out of the 67 people on board, 38 were killed, and 29 survived.

The Azerbaijani government initially stated that the aircraft was subjected to an attack as it approached the city of Grozny.

It was noted that the crash was caused by a Russian surface-to-air missile. The missile was launched over Chechnya’s Grozny during drone activity and exploded near flight 8243, causing shrapnel injuries to passengers and crew members.

After the incident, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated that the AZAL aircraft had been "hit by Russia." He mentioned that Russia must admit its fault, punish those responsible, and provide compensation.

On December 27, Russian President Vladimir Putin called President Aliyev, apologizing for the plane crash and referring to the incident as a "tragic event" that occurred in Russia's airspace.