During AZAL aircraft accident, fire destroyed part of fuselage and cockpit - REPORT

After the crash of an Embraer-190 aircraft belonging to Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) near Kazakhstan's Aktau airport, the subsequent fire destroyed parts of the fuselage and a portion of the cockpit, Report informs, citing the Kazakhstani Ministry of Transport.

The ministry said in a preliminary report that after collision with the ground surface, the aircraft broke into several pieces. The central and front parts of the fuselage, the lower part of the cockpit, and the right wing were completely burned. The upper part of the cockpit separated from the lower part, retaining the upper instrument panel, two cockpit windshields, and one side window, the report emphasizes.

According to the report, the rear part of the fuselage, together with the tail section, was located away from other parts of the aircraft. The left wing remained at the fire site along with the central part of the fuselage and was partially preserved.

The passenger aircraft belonging to AZAL, operating the Baku-Grozny flight, crashed near the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan, on December 25. Of the 67 people on board, 38 died and 29 survived.

According to preliminary information, the aircraft crashed as a result of physical external interference that occurred in Russian airspace over Grozny.