IATA calls for an honest investigation into Aktau plane crash

Tengrinews.kz – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has stated the need to conduct an independent and transparent investigation into the crash of Azerbaijan Airlines flight 8243, which occurred on December 25.
IATA stresses that the investigation must be carried out in strict accordance with international standards, including the provisions of Annex 13 of the Chicago Convention, which requires the publication of an interim report within 30 days of the incident.

"Our deepest condolences go out to the families and friends of those killed. As a mark of respect for the 38 victims of this tragedy and those who survived, we must find out why this disaster happened and take steps to ensure that something like this never happens again," said IATA Director General Willie Walsh.

Willie Walsh stressed that it is unacceptable for civil aviation to become a deliberate or accidental target of military operations.

"The high probability that Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243 was a victim of military action, as indicated by several governments, including Russia and Azerbaijan, highlights the need for a thorough, transparent and impartial investigation. The world eagerly awaits the publication of an interim report within 30 days, as required by the international obligations agreed under the Chicago Convention. If responsibility for this tragedy lies with the parties to the conflict, those responsible must be held accountable and punished," Walsh added.

IATA also recalled its position voiced in October 2024 at the UN Security Council. The Association emphasized that even in armed conflicts, states are obliged to ensure the safety of civil aviation.

"States' obligations include compliance with Article 48 of the Protocol to the Geneva Conventions, which obliges parties to a conflict not to strike civilian objects, as well as the Chicago Convention, which explicitly requires states to protect civil aircraft and their passengers, refrain from the use of force against civil aviation, and coordinate any actions potentially dangerous to civil flights," the information says.

To implement these obligations, IATA actively supports the work of the Safer Skies Consultative Committee aimed at reducing risks in conflict zones.

"This work includes standards for the exchange of information for risk assessment by operators and conflict zone guidance for both states and airlines," the information says.

Earlier, the Ministry of Transport reported that Kazakhstan would send the black boxes of the crashed Azerbaijan Airlines plane to the Brazilian Aeronautical Accidents Investigation and Prevention Center (CENIPA). The decision was made "taking into account the ICAO recommendation and consultations with the aviation authorities of Azerbaijan and Russia."