Aliyev says international group of experts set up to investigate accident near Aktau

On Baku's initiative, an international group of experts has been formed to investigate the crash of a passenger plane of Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) in the Kazakh city of Aktau. This was announced by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev during a conversation with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on December 28.

"President Ilham Aliyev said that on the initiative of the Azerbaijani side a group of international experts has been created for a comprehensive investigation of the causes of this disaster <...>," APA.AZ quoted Aliyev's press service as saying.

At the moment, the group of experts has started its work.

Tragedy in Aktau: Baku-Grozny passenger plane crashed

A fire started at the scene and there are survivors

On the same day, Putin and Aliyev discussed issues related to the crash of the airliner. They noted that the plane, which was flying on schedule, tried several times to land at Grozny airport. At that time Grozny, Mozdok and Vladikavkaz were attacked by Ukrainian drones and Russian air defense repelled these attacks.

A passenger plane of AZAL Airlines, which was en route Baku - Grozny, crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau on December 25. The Ministry of Transport of Azerbaijan called the preliminary cause of the crash outside interference. After the incident, a criminal case was initiated. According to the airline's list, 62 passengers and five crew members were on board. A total of 38 bodies were found at the crash site.

Seven Russians died in the airplane crash, nine citizens of the Russian Federation survived. Later, a special airplane of the Russian Emergencies Ministry delivered them to Moscow. Of the crew, three people survived.

After the crash, AZAL suspended flights from Baku to Grozny and Makhachkala until the investigation is completed. Later the company decided to suspend flights to Sochi, Volgograd, Ufa, Samara and Mineralnye Vody from December 28.

On December 27, representatives of the Embraer manufacturer arrived in Aktau to take part in the investigation of the crash of their company's plane. Employees of Brazil's Center for the Investigation and Prevention of Aviation Accidents (CENIPA) are also expected to arrive in the coming days.