Bek Air Crash Case Referred to Court, Minister Confirms

The criminal case over the 2019 Bek Air plane crash that killed 12 people has officially been referred to court, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Transport Nurlan Sauranbayev confirmed on July 31, Orda.kz reports.

When asked whether the case had been handed over to the court, the minister gave a brief but definitive response:

The Bek Air crash — Kazakhstan’s most recent major civil aviation disaster — occurred nearly five years ago.

A Fokker 100 aircraft, operated by the now-defunct low-cost airline, crashed shortly after takeoff from Almaty International Airport on December 27, 2019. The tragedy claimed 12 lives and left dozens injured, sparking a national outcry and leading to the eventual suspension of the airline’s operations.

Sauranbayev acknowledged lingering questions and confirmed that the Ministry of Transport has resumed its own internal investigation, separate from the criminal proceedings.

We have launched an internal investigation. Because there are still a number of questions that journalists are asking, and so on. If we find additional facts, we will contact other competent authorities he said.

Once known for offering Kazakhstan’s cheapest domestic airfares, Bek Air disappeared from the skies in the aftermath of the crash.

Original Author: Zhadra Zhulmukhametova