Kazakhstan releases interim statement on Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash probe

ALMATY, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- Kazakhstan's Ministry of Transport on Thursday released an interim statement on the investigation into the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane near the southwestern Kazakh city of Aktau last year.

As part of the investigation, a comprehensive forensic examination of identified foreign objects was conducted, revealing no traces of explosive substances and no evidence of an explosion on the three oxygen cylinders examined. The damage to the aircraft was presumably caused by striking elements of a warhead, but it was not possible to establish their origin, the statement said.

A traceological examination of part of hydraulic system pipe No. 2 revealed that the tubing exhibited damage classified as "metal rupture resulting from contact with hard objects." Through-type damage may have been caused by metallic fragments composed of iron-based alloys, the statement added.

The final investigation report was initially expected to be completed by the end of 2025. However, the newly released statement said the final timeline of the investigation "depends on the completion of all assigned research and work."

Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243 from Baku to Grozny crashed near Aktau on Dec. 25, 2024, with 62 passengers and five crew members on board. Thirty-eight people were killed in the crash and 29 were rescued, according to Kazakhstan's Ministry of Emergency Situations. ■