On January 15, the Telegram channel Baza released a full transcript of the communications between the Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) plane that crashed near Aktau and the air traffic controllers in Grozny, Rostov-on-Don, and Aktau.  The transcript reveals that all decisions—such as not landing in Grozny, not flying to Makhachkala, then attempting to return to Baku, and ultimately proceeding to Aktau—were made independently by the AZAL crew.

Air traffic controllers had reportedly suggested landing first in Grozny and then in Makhachkala, and they provided information about other Russian airports, but the crew chose not to land there.  The recordings make it clear that the theories of a bird strike or a gas cylinder explosion on board were initially raised by the plane’s crew during their discussions with controllers.  It is also apparent that the plane suffered some external damage, though the captain did not declare an emergency on board.

The transcript begins at 7:36.  While attempting to land in Grozny, the crew reported losing signals from both GPS systems. After a second unsuccessful attempt, the captain stated, “We’re proceeding to Baku.”  Shortly afterward, he requested weather information for the Mineralnye Vody airport and decided to head there instead.

A few minutes later, the pilot asked the controller for the weather in Makhachkala, stating, “The aircraft is losing control.  Provide Makhachkala.”  Six minutes later, the crew was transferred to controllers in Rostov-on-Don, where the pilot reported that the aircraft had lost rudder control and they were heading to Baku.

At 8:22, the crew reported a hydraulic system failure.  The Rostov controller then recommended landing in Makhachkala, stating: “Recommendation: 160 km southeast of you is Makhachkala, technically fit to receive. What is your decision?” The captain asked for the weather in both cities and confirmed the intention to fly to Baku.

At 8:39, the crew informed the Rostov controller that while the engines were operational, the aileron and elevator control systems had failed.  A minute later, the pilot requested weather information for Aktau, and by 9:02, the crew was communicating with the tower in Kazakhstan.  At 9:23, the Aktau controller cleared the plane for landing.  The captain declared a distress signal when deciding to fly to Aktau.  The transcript ends at 9:27.

In the released transcript, the pilot first mentioned the possibility of a bird strike during discussions with controllers in Grozny.  About 35 minutes later, the crew also speculated that a gas cylinder had exploded on board:

“Oxygen is running out in the passenger cabin. It seems that an oxygen cylinder exploded there. Also, there’s the smell of fuel.  Some passengers... they’re losing consciousness.  Permission to descend to a lower altitude?”

Baza has not disclosed how it obtained the black box transcript.  Officials have not yet commented on its authenticity.

Russian state-run news agency TASS reports that Russian Foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said on January 14 during a press conference that decoding the black boxes does not confirm "some preliminary conclusions stated in the media" but did not specify which conclusions. 

Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243 was a scheduled international passenger flight from Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku, Azerbaijan, to Kadyrov Grozny International Airport near Grozny, Russia.  On December 25, 2024, the Embraer 190AR operating the Azerbaijan Airlines flight was severely damaged by what is believed to be a Russian surface-to-air missile during the aircraft's approach to Grozny. The aircraft attempted to divert but ultimately crashed near Aktau International Airport in Kazakhstan with 62 passengers and 5 crew on board.  Of those 67 people, 38 died in the accident, including both of the pilots and a flight attendant, while 29 people survived with injuries.