Azerbaijan Spotlights Ongoing Probe Into AZAL Plane Mishap

(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 1. The investigation into the crash of the AZAL plane is currently ongoing, Azerbaijan's Prosecutor General Kamran Aliyev told media, Trend reports.

He noted that the investigation is conducted through a collaborative framework involving Azerbaijan, Russia, and Kazakhstan.

"We hope that the investigation of this case will also find a logical conclusion," the official added.

On December 25, 2024, an Embraer 190-100 IGW passenger aircraft, registered in the state register under number 4K-AZ65 and owned by Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC (AZAL), crashed in the Republic of Kazakhstan near Aktau Airport while performing regular flight J2-8243 from Baku (Republic of Azerbaijan) to Grozny (Russian Federation). Two crew members (the captain and co-pilot), the senior flight attendant, and 35 passengers were lost in the crash.

The preliminary report published by the Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan confirms the following facts:

1. The Embraer 190-100 IGW passenger aircraft, registered under the number 4K-AZ65 and owned by Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC (AZAL), operating a regular flight J2-8243 from Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan to Grozny, Russian Federation, has been in a fully operational condition since the start of the flight on the route to Grozny. in good condition for flights. These data on the airworthiness of the aircraft, including the operation of its control systems, were confirmed using FDR data;

2. Both engines of the aircraft were operating without technical problems until the moment of the accident. This information is also confirmed by FDR data;

3. During the flight in the airspace of the Russian Federation, including over Grozny Airport, the aircraft lost GPS signals;

4. Due to adverse weather conditions over Grozny, the aircraft was unable to make a second approach for landing, after which the captain decided to return to Baku. After this decision was made over Grozny, two external sounds were recorded on the CVR at 24-second intervals;

5. A comparison of CVR and FDR data showed that 4 seconds after the first external sound, the third hydraulic system failed; 6 seconds later the first hydraulic system failed, and 21 seconds later the second hydraulic system failed;

6. Numerous blunt and penetrating damages to the fuselage were found and recorded in photographs and video recordings. This damage was found in the rear of the fuselage, the vast majority of which was on the vertical and horizontal stabilizers, as well as the left wing and left engine.

7. Information was provided that the damage found in the aircraft fuselage was caused by external objects. The preliminary report does not contain any information indicating that the aircraft collided with birds.

8. Foreign objects not belonging to the aircraft, found in the blind damage to the fuselage, were removed; their photographs are presented to the public in the preliminary report. To accurately determine the origin of the foreign objects found, additional examinations are planned in the future.

9. At 05:13:32, the aircraft's main control systems failed; at 05:21:42, the liaison officer reported to Grozny that Operation Carpet was underway.

10. No information indicating an oxygen cylinder explosion has been provided.

In accordance with the stipulations set forth by the ICAO Chicago Convention, it is imperative that a comprehensive final report delineating the causative factors of the crash be synthesized and submitted within a one-year timeframe subsequent to the issuance of the preliminary report.

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