The Kazakh Ministry of Transport has published a preliminary
report on the investigation into the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL)
aircraft near Aktau, which resulted in the deaths of 38 people. The plane was
operating the Baku-Grozny flight. The crew made two unsuccessful landing
attempts and decided to return to Baku. An emergency situation later occurred
on board, and the aircraft’s primary flight control systems were lost. The crew
then decided to proceed to Aktau’s alternate airfield for an emergency landing.
Upon ground impact, the aircraft was destroyed and partially caught fire. The
report further states that numerous penetrating and non-penetrating damage of
various sizes and shapes was found in the tail section of the fuselage, fin,
stabilizer, elevator, and rudder. Photographs in the report confirm these
findings. Experts note that such damage could have led to a loss of hydraulic
pressure, which may have caused the failure of the rudder. Research and expert
examinations will be conducted to determine the nature and origin of the
penetrating damage. The document mentions that the information may be clarified
and supplemented. The final report will be prepared after all investigations
into the accident are completed.
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