An-2 biplane crashes during agricultural operations in Kazakhstan

The Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan has officially confirmed the crash of an Antonov An-2 aircraft in the Pavlodar region. The aviation accident occurred on the morning of May 27 near the village of Zhelezinka during routine agricultural spraying operations.

According to preliminary data from the ministry, the biplane struck power lines while conducting a low-level flight, which led to the crash.

The aircraft was operated by ELISA (the Association of Legal Entities “Operators of Light and Ultra-Light Aviation”), a player in Kazakhstan’s general aviation and special-mission sector. There were two crew members on board: one pilot succumbed to injuries and died at the scene, while the second pilot survived.

The Department for Transport Accident and Incident Investigation under the Ministry of Transport has launched an investigation into the causes and circumstances of the occurrence. A ministerial commission has been dispatched to the crash site to gather objective data, analyze weather conditions, and review the aircraft’s technical and airworthiness status prior to departure. Concurrently, law enforcement authorities have initiated a criminal investigation into the accident.

This occurrence is highly likely to trigger ad hoc safety audits and inspections among domestic light aviation operators in Kazakhstan, coming at the very peak of the 2026 aerial application season.