AZAL E190 lost hydraulics, was flown with differential thrust before crash

February 5, 2025

The Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) Embraer E190 which crashed in December suffered a catastrophic loss of its hydraulic systems and was ultimately flown using differential thrust alone before its fatal impact, according to a preliminary report released by the Kazakhstan Ministry of Transport.
The initial findings indicate that the aircraft sustained severe external damage mid-flight, leading to a complete hydraulic system failure and forcing the crew into a desperate struggle to regain control.
Timeline of Events
The incident, which occurred on 25 December 2024, involved flight J28243. According to the report, the aircraft took off at 03:55 UTC and approached Grozny at 04:36, reporting a loss of both GPS systems and requesting an NDB approach. Over the next several minutes, the crew attempted two go-arounds before deciding to return to Baku.
At 05:13, the flight data recorder captured a “sonic boom,” followed by the disabling of both the autopilot and autothrottle. Seconds later, the aircraft’s third hydraulic system pressure dropped to zero, and its control surfaces—elevator, aileron, and rudder—became locked in a neutral position. A second “sonic boom” was recorded at 05:13:56, suggesting another violent external force acted on the plane.
Despite these failures, both engines remained operational, and the pilots attempted to control the aircraft solely by adjusting engine thrust. The crew initially declared a bird strike but later reported a “strong explosion” in the rear of the aircraft, describing passenger seats being damaged. With the cabin depressurising, the crew sought an emergency landing at Aktau, Kazakhstan.
At 06:02, the pilots declared a mayday to Aktau air traffic control, reporting that they had lost all control surfaces and were managing the aircraft with differential throttle adjustments. The situation deteriorated rapidly, with passengers losing consciousness due to suspected oxygen depletion.
The aircraft’s final moments were marked by a series of terrain warnings. The flight data recorder captured multiple “TERRAIN, TERRAIN, PULL UP” alerts before the aircraft struck the ground at 06:27. The E190 crashed with a 35-degree right bank and a -5.8-degree pitch, with flaps extended and landing gear deployed in an apparent attempt at an emergency landing.
Authorities continue to investigate the exact cause of the mid-air damage that led to the catastrophic failure of the aircraft’s hydraulic systems. The preliminary report raises serious concerns about an external force—possibly an explosion or structural failure—triggering the sequence of failures.
On Tuesday, Reuters reported an Azerbaijani government source as saying that the aircraft was believed to have been hit by a Russian Pantsir-S air defence system. Russian authorities have yet to respond to the claim.