Kazakhstan's Ministry of Transport has released a preliminary report on the Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) plane crash near Aktau Airport.

The report states that the investigation commission continues to conduct a detailed inspection of the aircraft’s structural damage.

“The initial examination of preserved fragments revealed multiple punctured and non-punctured damages of various shapes and sizes on the tail section, including the vertical and horizontal stabilizers, rudder, and directional controls. Similar damage was found on the left engine, left wing, and other components, with some showing distinct rectangular shapes," the report says.

The 53-page document includes photographs of damaged parts, foreign metal objects retrieved from the hydraulic system and stabilizer control mechanism, and flight data recorder analysis.

The AZAL passenger aircraft, operating the Baku-Grozny route, crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on December 25. Of the 67 people on board, 38 lost their lives, while 29 survived.