The Kazakh government has released a preliminary report on the crash of the Azerbaijani airline AZAL’s Embraer 190 on December 25 in Aktau, Kazakhstan. The report, while not providing a definitive conclusion, does reveal certain facts.
According to the document, a “Plan Kowjor” was in effect for the city of Grozny on that day, indicating a restriction on civilian air traffic in a specific area due to the presence of uncontrolled objects in the air or potential threats from the air defense system. The report does not clarify when the restriction was announced or if the flight crew of the AZAL plane was informed of the restriction on the Grozny airport.
The central air traffic control in Rostov-on-Don reportedly informed the flight controllers in Grozny of the “Kowjor” plan at 5:21 UTC, while the event that likely caused damage to the plane likely occurred at 5:13 UTC.
Additionally, the report states that NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) orders were in effect for the Grozny airport on December 25, warning of the failure of satellite-based navigation systems.
The report describes metal objects found in the rear section of the crashed plane and an initial examination of the fragments revealed numerous through holes of various sizes and shapes in the fuselage, keel and stabilizer, as well as the ailerons and rudder. Similar damage was found on the left engine and left wing.
Interview transcripts analyzed by investigators revealed that the crew reported a strong impact and an explosion in the rear cabin section, as well as a lack of oxygen in the cabin, leading them to conclude that there was an explosion of the oxygen tank. The crew also considered the possibility of a collision with birds. Internal communication among the flight operators mentioned that they were reseating passengers from the affected seats in the rear section.
A source in the Russian aviation community, involved in the investigation of the incident, has stated that the Russian side has not yet received samples of the elements found in the plane’s fuselage for examination. Therefore, the claims of some foreign media that the elements are parts of a Panzer missile require at least additional investigation and expert opinions. The Kazakh government’s report does not identify the elements as such, instead emphasizing the need for further investigation into their origin.