On Wednesday, December 25, 2024, flight J2-8243 operated by Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) traveling from Baku, Azerbaijan to Grozny, Russia crashed on the shore of the Caspian Sea near Aktau in Kazakhstan. Of the 67 people onboard, 38 died including passengers and crew members. The Wicks Group (TWG) is deeply saddened by this incident and expresses its deepest condolences to the victims, families, and all those who have been impacted by this aviation tragedy. We wish a speedy recovery to the survivors.
On Sunday, December 29, Azerbaijan’s President, Ilham Aliyev, and the country of Azerbaijan paid tribute to the pilots and passengers that were killed during the crash. Captain Igor Kshnyakin, co-pilot Alexander Kalyaninov, and flight attendant Hokuma Aliyeva were given full honors at a ceremony at the II Alley of Honor in Baku. President Aliyev awarded the crew posthumously with the tiles of National Hero of Azerbaijan to recognize their bravery and selflessness, which helped to save lives. The Wicks Group celebrates the lives, bravery, and efforts of these aviation heroes and stand with Azerbaijan and our long-standing client, AZAL, in responding to this tragedy.
For more information about The Wicks Group, please contact Glenn Wicks at gpwicks@wicks-group.com.