Kasakhstan havariet - Oppdatering fra ASN

 

Date:	Wednesday 25 December 2024
Time:	06:28 UTC
Type:	Embraer ERJ-190AR
Owner/operator:	Azerbaijan Airlines
Registration:	4K-AZ65
MSN:	19000630
Year of manufacture:	2013
Engine model:	General Electric CF34-10E
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 38 / Occupants: 67
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Category:	Unlawful Interference
Location:	5 km NW of Aktau Airport (SCO/UATE) -    Kazakhstan
Phase:	Approach
Nature:	Passenger - Scheduled
Departure airport:	Baku-Heydar Aliyev International Airport (GYD/UBBB)
Destination airport:	Grozny Airport (GRV/URMG)
Confidence Rating:	Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources

Narrative:
Azerbaijan Airlines flight J28243, an Embraer ERJ-190AR, crashed near Aktau Airport, Kazakhstan, after having declared an emergency. Flightradar24 data shows the aircraft having fluctuating altitude and speed data. There are conflicting figures as to the number of people on board. According to the airline, there were five crew and 62 passengers onboard. According to information from the Ministry of Emergencies, 29 survivors were taken to the hospital. Eleven are in serious condition.

Flight 8243 took off from Baku International Airport (GYD) in Azerbaijan at 03:55 UTC on a flight to Grozny Airport (GRV), Russia, that usually takes about one hour. The Russian Federal Agency for Air Transport (Rosaviatsiya) stated that during that morning the situation in the area of Grozny airport was 'very difficult'. At that time, Ukrainian military drones were reported to be carrying out attacks in the cities of Grozny and Vladikavkaz. Rosaviatsiya states that the airspace was closed as a result, without stating the timeframe of the closure in relation to flight 8243. In addition, there was 'dense fog' in the area of Grozny Airport, according to Rosaviatsiya. Metar data from 05:02 UTC show that there was an overcast cloud deck at 800 feet with a visibility in fog of 3500 m. Rosaviatsiya goes on to state that the aircraft made two attempts to land at Grozny, which were unsuccessful. The flight was then offered other airports for diversion and the flight crew decided to proceed to Aktau Airport. Flightradar24 ADS-B data stopped at 04:25 UTC reappeared at 06:07 UTC when the flight showed up over the Caspian Sea, squawking 7700 (emergency). Altitude and speed data are available from 05:14 UTC, showing fluctuating altitude and speed as the aircraft heads to Aktau Airport. According to local media, Kazaeronavigatsiya stated that the flight crew had reported problems controlling the aircraft.

Videos show that the aircraft collided with terrain in a right wing low, nose down altitude. The aircraft broke up and a fire erupted. Post accident photos show that the main cabin area was consumed by the ensuing crash fire. The tail section came to rest upside down away from the main wreckage and was free of fire damage.

Multiple videos, purportedly of flight J28243, are being shared on social media. They show the oxygen masks had dropped in the cabin at some point before the accident. Also, a passenger was supposedly interviewed after surviving the accident. He stated having heard an explosion during the descent or approach. He also reported observing that shrapnel had perforated his life vest. Another in-flight video shows a hole in a flap track fairing on the left-hand wing. Additionally, post accident video footage of the tail section shows multiple small holes in the tailfin as well as horizontal stabilizer.

On December 27, Azerbaijan Airlines released a statement, reporting that it was suspending flights to several additional Russian airports after flights to Grozny and Makhachkala had already been suspended on December 25. This decision was made in accordance with the Azerbaijan State Civil Aviation Authority, and was based on the preliminary results of the investigation, "due to physical and technical external interference" and considering "potential risks to flight safety".

According to an unverified and unconfirmed ATC transcript, purportedly of the communications between Grozny Tower and flight J28243, flight requested an NDB approach to runway 26 because they had lost GPS. They were subsequently cleared for an NDB V approach via the Remka1X arrival procedure. At 04:50 UTC the flight was cleared to land. Flight J28243 then carried out a go around an received vectors for a second NDB approach to runway 26. The flight was cleared to land at 05:10 UTC. Following a second go around, the flight crew radioed they were returning to Baku. At 05:16 UTC, the flight crew radioed they had a 'control failure' due to a 'bird strike in the cockpit'. They reported their intention to divert to Mineralnye Vody (225 km northwest of GRV)) and requested the latest weather there. Upon hearing the weather information, they radioed they wanted to divert to Makhachkala. At 05:22 UTC the flight reported that the hydraulics had failed. At 05:27 the flight was instructed to contact Rostov Control.

On December 28, according to RT news, "Russian President Vladimir Putin has called his Azerbaijani counterpart, Ilham Aliyev, to express condolences for the deadly plane crash that occured in Kazakhstan this week, the Kremlin said on Saturday. Putin offered an apology for the fact that an incident 'took place in Russian airspace,' adding that it occurred during a Ukrainian drone raid, which was being repelled by air defenses."