IATA Statement on Azerbaijan Airlines Plane Crash in Aktau
ASTANA – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has expressed its condolences following the tragic crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane on Dec. 25 in Aktau. The organization has called for a thorough, impartial, and transparent investigation into the incident.
In a statement released on Dec. 29, IATA emphasized the importance of conducting the investigation in accordance with the provisions of Annex 13 of the Chicago Convention. This includes the publication of an interim report within 30 days of the accident.
“Our deepest sympathies are with the family and friends of those who have perished. Out of respect for the 38 people who lost their lives and to those who survived, we must find out why this catastrophe happened and take action to ensure there is never a repeat,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
IATA’s call for a comprehensive investigation comes in the wake of statements from the governments of Russia and Azerbaijan confirming that the tragic incident occurred in Russian airspace near military operations.
“Civil aircraft must never be the intended or accidental target of military operations. The strong potential that Azerbaijan Airlines flight 8243 could have been the victim of military operations places the highest priority on conducting a thorough, transparent, and impartial investigation,” Walsh added.
The black boxes of the crashed Azerbaijan Airlines plane will be sent to Brazil for decoding, as announced during a meeting in Astana on Dec. 28. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has directed for a thorough and impartial investigation into the accident. The world awaits the publication of the interim report within 30 days, as per international obligations under the Chicago Convention. Should the investigation reveal that combatants were responsible for the tragedy, IATA emphasized the importance of holding the perpetrators accountable and ensuring that they are brought to justice.
