Kazakh authorities announced on December 29 that the Azerbaijan Airlines aircraft’s black box is being sent to Brazil for further investigation. This decision comes amid allegations that the crash, which claimed 38 lives, was caused by Russian air defense.
Kazakhstan’s move aligns with Azerbaijan’s call for a transparent probe into the incident. The crash occurred with 67 people onboard, including 42 Azerbaijani citizens, 16 Russians, six Kazakhs, and three Kyrgyz citizens. The tragedy has raised pressing questions about the circumstances leading to the disaster.
According to officials in Astana, the decision to send the flight recorders to Brazil was made due to the aircraft’s Brazilian origin and after “consultations with Azerbaijan and Russia.” Azerbaijan’s government has alleged that the aircraft was struck by a Russian missile near Grozny and subsequently denied emergency landings at two Russian airports before the fatal crash.
President Ilham Aliyev has strongly condemned the incident, accusing Russia of attempting to conceal its role in the tragedy. Aliyev has demanded an official apology, accountability for those responsible, and compensation for the victims’ families. In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences, calling the crash a “tragic incident,” but stopped short of admitting guilt.
The final determination of what transpired will rest on the analysis of the flight recorders. The Kazakh government’s decision underscores its commitment to an impartial investigation of Azerbaijan Airlines’ crush, as global attention remains fixed on the outcome of the inquiry.