AZAL plane crash: Preliminary Investigation Findings to Be Released Soon

Kazakhstan's Vice Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev stated that the preliminary results of the investigation into the plane crash near the city of Aktau will be announced next week.

He added, that the ICAO experts and the experts from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Russia joined the investigation, The Caspian Post reports citing Kazinform.

According to the ICAO standards, the aviation authorities investigate the crash for one month. Some 17-18 people, including experts from Russia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are involved in the investigation. The preliminary results will be announced next week, Bozumbayev told a briefing.

He stressed that criminal proceedings were initiated following the plane crash.

The Azerbaijan Airlines plane which was flying from Baku to Grozny crashed near Aktau, Mangistau region, on December 25. The plane was carrying 67 people including 5 crew members. 38 people died and 29 survived as a result of the tragedy. Among the victims are six nationals of Kazakhstan.

As written before, the two black boxes belonging to the Azerbaijan Airlines plane that crashed near Aktau had been delivered to Kazakhstan from Brazil.