Joint opinion of experts of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and ICAO: The plane was shot down
Baku, December 26, AZERTAC
The investigation into the crash of the “Embraer 190-100 IGW” passenger aircraft belonging to “Azerbaijan Airlines” CJSC (AZAL), which occurred on December 25, 2024, in the territory of Kazakhstan, continues in accordance with Annex 13 to the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation.
The investigation is being conducted by the Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan with the participation of representatives from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Azerbaijan, Brazil, and Russia. In parallel, the investigative authorities of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia are carrying out criminal investigations into the crash within their respective jurisdictions.
In line with ICAO requirements, Kazakhstan published a preliminary report in February of this year. The report reflected only the established facts and did not contain any analysis or conclusions.
As it was not possible to complete the final report - expected to include the results of the investigation under the Chicago Convention - by the anniversary of the crash, Kazakhstan published an interim statement for the public in accordance with ICAO requirements.
The interim statement notes that the oxygen cylinders were undamaged, ruling out an internal explosion. It also records that foreign metal objects that caused damage to the aircraft - fragments of an explosive device - are linked to a weapon system. However, the model of the weapon system is not specified in the interim statement. It should be recalled that the affiliation of this weapon system with the air defense forces of the Russian Ministry of Defense has already been mentioned in a political statement by the President of that country.
It is noted that at the next stage, the Kazakh side is required to present the final report to the public, reflecting the completed results of the investigation. Unlike the interim statement, the final report should be more detailed, include all factual information revealed during the investigation, provide an analysis of the cause of the crash, and contain recommendations aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future.
Based on the report published by the Kazakh side and the joint opinion of experts from Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Brazil, and ICAO, it is evident that the aircraft lost control and crashed not due to any technical malfunction, but as a result of external interference - specifically, being shot down.
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