AZAL airline announces suspension of flights on two routes following plane crash

AZAL airline suspends flights on two routes following the crash of its plane near Kazakh city Aktau, Kazinform News Agency correspondent reports citing the company’s Telegram account.

Azerbaijan Airlines suspended flights on Baku-Grozny-Baku and Baku-Makhachkala-Baku routes until the completion of the investigation, stated the Azerbaijani air company.

All other flights will be operated as scheduled, it added.

The Azerbaijan Airlines plane, which was operating a flight en route Baku-Grozny, crashed Wednesday morning near Kazakhstan's Aktau city. 69 people, including 5 crew members, were onboard. 28 passengers were hospitalized.

The government commission headed by Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Kanat Bozumbayev began its work at the crash site of the plane.

As was reported, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov reported to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on the current situation related to the passenger plane crash near Aktau.

Upon Kazakh President Tokayev’s instruction, an ambulance aircraft left Astana headed to Aktau.

It was reported that President Tokayev tasked to set up a state commission in connection with the plane crash.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev cut short his trip to Russia due to the plane crash.

Earlier, Kazinform News Agency presented the preliminary list of passengers onboard the crashed plane.

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expressed his condolences to Azerbaijan’s President Aliyev following the incident.

It was previously informed Kazakh Emergency Situations Minister Chingis Arinov arrived in Aktau.