Azerbaijani Plane Crash Victims Honored in Aktau

The event, organized by the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Azerbaijan and the Akimat of Mangistau region, was attended by Mangistau region Akim (Governor) Nurdaulet Kilybay, Kazakhstan's Ambassador to Azerbaijan Alim Bayel, Azerbaijan's Ambassador to Kazakhstan Aghalar Atamoghlanov, and others, The Caspian Post reports, citing local media.

During the ceremony, verses from the Quran were recited, and Kilybay expressed condolences to the families of the deceased.

He also noted that, following the instructions of Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, a government commission was formed to investigate the causes of the crash and provide support to the victims.

Kilybay also extended gratitude to rescuers, medical workers, and the people of Kazakhstan for their support.

Ambassador Alim Bayel highlighted the strong, allied relations between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, noting the strategic importance of both nations in regional politics and transport.

On December 25, 2024, Azerbaijan Airlines flight 8243, an Embraer 190AR, tragically crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, while attempting an emergency landing. The flight was traveling from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, and had 67 people on board, including 62 passengers and five crew members. Among the passengers were 42 Azerbaijanis, 16 Russians, six Kazakhs, and three Kyrgyz nationals. The crash resulted in 38 fatalities, while 29 survivors, including three crew members, were rescued. Of the five crew members, three died, and two survived. Initial investigations point to a Russian surface-to-air missile striking the aircraft while attempting to intercept a Ukrainian drone over Chechnya.

On December 28, Russian President Vladimir Putin called Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to offer condolences and apologize for the tragedy, which occurred in Russian airspace. President Aliyev demanded that those responsible be held accountable and that compensation be provided to Azerbaijan, the injured passengers, and the families of those who perished.

On February 4 this year, Reuters reported that the Azerbaijani aircraft was hit by a Russian Pantsir-S air defence system. An Azerbaijani government source confirmed this information, stating that a fragment of a Pantsir-S missile was recovered from the wreckage and identified through international expertise.