Azerbaijan marks first anniversary of AZAL crash near Aktau

Azerbaijan on Thursday marked the first anniversary of the fatal Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) flight J2-8243 crash, with senior officials and relatives visiting the graves of the crew members at the Second Alley of Honor in Baku.

Digital Development and Transport Minister Rashad Nabiyev and AZAL President Samir Rzayev paid respects to National Heroes Hokuma Aliyeva, Igor Kshnyakin, and Alexander Kalyaninov, who perished in the disaster.

On December 25, 2024, an Embraer 190 aircraft traveling from Baku to Grozny crashed 3 km from Aktau, Kazakhstan. Out of the 67 people on board, 38 were killed and 29 injured. Preliminary investigations revealed the aircraft was struck by a Russian "Pantsir-S" air defense system while approaching Grozny.

The crash claimed the lives of Captain Kshnyakin, First Officer Kalyaninov, and flight attendant Aliyeva, while two other crew members survived.

N.Tebrizli