In April 2024, a FlyArystam aircraft arriving from Almaty struck a wild animal that had entered the runway at Shymkent Airport during landing. The incident occurred due to inadequate perimeter fencing in the area under the responsibility of military unit No. 55652, according to infohub.kz.
Initially reported as a dog, the investigation determined the animal was a wild jackal. The collision caused damage to the aircraft components.
“The commission concluded that the cause of the aviation incident was the failure to ensure the integrity of the perimeter fence in the area under the responsibility of military unit No. 55652. The investigation revealed gaps that allowed a wild animal—presumably a jackal—to freely enter the airfield. Its movement was from north to south. Responsibility for allowing this incident has been placed on the officials of the military unit,” said Aliq Ganeev, acting chairman of the board of Shymkent Airport JSC.
The military has been recommended to bring its area of responsibility into compliance with security requirements, preventing animals and unauthorized persons from entering the airfield.
The Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan noted that the fence section near military unit No. 55652 did not meet aviation security standards regarding security lighting, video surveillance, and the lack of an anti-dig device. The deficiencies have not yet been addressed due to objective reasons, including funding issues from the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Meanwhile, the administration stated that the perimeter fencing in the airport's own area of responsibility is in good condition, and the identified gaps have been closed.