A plane of Azerbaijan Airlines, an Embraer E190, crashed near Aktau in Kazakhstan on December 25. The aircraft, en route from Baku to Grozny, lost control due to a sudden technical issue, and 38 of the 67 people on board perished. The investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing.
According to a conversation protocol between the flight crew and Russian air traffic controllers, published on the Telegram channel Baza, the plane’s crew initially suspected a bird strike had caused the problem, as the aircraft lost stability. The captain decided to return to Baku, but subsequent system failures forced the crew to make multiple changes to the flight plan. The captain initially intended to land in Mineralnye Vody, then in Machatschkala, before finally deciding to attempt a landing in Aktau.
During the nearly two-hour communication, the captain mentioned a problem with the aircraft’s oxygen system, stating that an oxygen tank had exploded, and that oxygen levels in the cabin were low, with some passengers losing consciousness.
The authenticity of these conversation protocols is currently unconfirmed, as the Telegram channel has not disclosed its source. Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport has declined to comment on the circulating information, stating that it will not provide an official statement until the official investigation report is available.
Russian and Azerbaijani authorities have responded differently to the incident. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has called for full transparency and the punishment of those responsible, particularly criticizing the Russian side, citing possible evidence of the plane being shot down by Russian air defense systems during the defense against Ukrainian drone attacks.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed regret for the “tragic event in the Russian airspace.” Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that the investigation is not yet complete, and that the full analysis of the flight recorders must be awaited before final conclusions can be drawn.
Meanwhile, the flight recorders of the plane have been sent to Brazil for analysis.
Azerbaijan Airlines and other airlines have since restricted or suspended their flights to Russia following the incident.