Azerbaijan Airlines has suspended flights to eight additional Russian airports after a flight carrying passengers from Azerbaijan’s capital Baku to Russia’s Grozny crashed “due to physical and technical external interference,” the airline announced. Is.
Reports suggest that a Russian anti-aircraft missile may have been responsible for the disaster.
Flights from Baku to eight Russian airports have been suspended since December 28, the airline said in a post on Twitter. This announcement is in addition to the prior suspension of flights between Baku and two other Russian airports.
“This decision, taken according to the Azerbaijan State Civil Aviation Authority, is based on the preliminary results of the investigation of the crash of the Embraer 190 aircraft operating Azerbaijan Airlines Baku-Grozny flight J2-8243 due to physical and technical external interference and flight “Considering the potential risks to safety, the suspension will remain in effect until the final investigation is completed,” the airline told XPost.
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Evidence collection efforts are underway at the site of the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) passenger plane near Aktau, Kazakhstan on December 27, 2024. (Miramgul Kusainova/Anadolu via Getty Images)
“It should be noted that on December 25, AZAL decided to suspend flights from Baku to Grozny and Makhachkala,” the post said.
The airline had earlier reported that there were 62 passengers and five crew members on board the flight. Reports indicate that only 29 survived.
According to the Wall Street Journal, preliminary results of Azerbaijan’s investigation into the fatal incident suggest that the plane was hit by a Russian anti-aircraft missile or shrapnel from such a missile, people briefed on the investigation said.
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Emergency experts work at the crash site of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet near the western Kazakh city of Aktau on December 25, 2024. (ISSA TAZENBAEV/AFP via Getty Images)
Fox News Digital contacted the Information and Press Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry for comment.
A source familiar with Azerbaijan’s investigation told Reuters that preliminary results indicate the plane was hit by a Russian Pantsir-S air defense system – according to the outlet, electronic warfare systems intercepted the plane’s communications on its approach to Grozny. Had done.
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Emergency experts work at the crash site of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet near the western Kazakh city of Aktau on December 25, 2024. (ISSA TAZENBAEV/AFP via Getty Images)
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“No one claims that this was done intentionally. However, taking into account the established facts, Baku hopes that the Russian side will confess to shooting down the Azerbaijani plane,” the source said, according to Reuters. “
