“Following the crash of the Embraer 190 aircraft belonging to Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL), a commission was immediately established in line with President Ilham Aliyev's directive. Members of the commission were dispatched to Aktau to examine the crash site and assess the condition of those affected. They met with victims from Azerbaijan and other countries,” Rashad Nabiyev, Minister of Digital Development and Transport, told journalists.

The minister noted, “Affected passengers and surviving flight attendants reported hearing an explosion while over Grozny. One flight attendant even sustained an arm injury. Additionally, footage circulating on social media and in the press shows a woman with injuries to her arm and leg. Moreover, holes can be observed on the plane's wing, and inside the aircraft, damages to the fuselage are consistent with sharp object. Russian citizens among the victims have also reported hearing three explosions while over Grozny. According to them, the explosion sounds came from outside, and then something struck the plane.”

The initial reports from the media, stating that birds had struck the plane, were quickly dispelled by expert analysis. Nabiyev noted that the remains of the plane and witness testimonies suggest that external interference was involved. The investigation will focus on determining the type of weapon involved. Additionally, by analyzing the aircraft's flight trajectory, it is clear that the plane's route was from Makhachkala to Aktau. Whether permission for landing was granted at this point will be decided based on the investigation's results. Furthermore, the purpose behind the pilot's emergency landing will also be clarified through the inquiry. The issue of the GPS being turned off will be resolved once the evidence is reviewed.

The minister also emphasized, “Both local and international experts have concluded that the aircraft crew acted heroically, making the most optimal emergency landing. As a result, the vast majority of passengers were saved. Azerbaijan has exercised its right to involve international consultants in the investigation, and we are already in contact with them.”

Nabiyev added that two specialists from "Embraer" are on-site and part of the investigation team. Additionally, Brazilian experts will be at the scene tomorrow.

Referring to the statement by Kazakh officials, the minister noted that the claim about the oxygen tank explosion came from a dispatcher in Rostov. "We believe the accuracy of this information needs to be verified. This is information from an interested party. As I mentioned, the explosion sounds came from outside," he stated.

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