Azerbaijan Airlines claimed that external interference was responsible for the plane crash in Kazakhstan. Concurrently, reports suggested that Russian anti-aircraft actions contributed to the incident, which resulted in at least 38 fatalities. Russia, on its part, attributed the incident to Ukrainian drones and fog causing the diversion.
In Short
- An Azerbaijan Airlines jet crashed in Kazakhstan, resulting in the deaths of 38 people.
- Russia asserts that Ukrainian drones and fog were responsible for diverting the plane’s route.
- Ukraine accuses Russia of spreading misleading narratives regarding the crash.
According to a report by CNN, Azerbaijan Airlines, the carrier of the passenger jet that crashed in Kazakhstan on December 25, stated that initial investigations indicated the accident was caused by “physical and technical external interference,” as reported by Azerbaijan’s state news agency AZERTAC. Prior to this, there were claims suggesting that a Russian anti-aircraft system may have been responsible for the crash.
Kazakh authorities confirmed that at least 38 of the 67 people on board, including two pilots, lost their lives in the incident.
On Friday, the Russian government reported that the plane was redirected from its intended destination in Grozny, Chechnya, due to Ukrainian drones in the vicinity and foggy conditions.
Dmitry Yadrov, head of Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency, told CNN that as the passenger jet attempted to land in southern Russia, “Ukrainian combat drones were conducting terrorist attacks on civilian infrastructure in the cities of Grozny and Vladikavkaz.” In response, Yadrov explained that the airspace in the region was closed, necessitating an immediate departure for all aircraft within the zone. Speaking to the media, Yadrov stated that the pilot of flight J2-8243 made two unsuccessful landing attempts in Grozny.
Although authorities advised diverting to other airports, Yadrov noted that the pilot “chose to proceed to Aktau airport” in Kazakhstan, across the Caspian Sea. He added that a dense layer of fog was present in the area at the time of the incident.
On Friday, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accused Russian media of disseminating falsehoods about the plane crash.
He alleged that Moscow “forced the damaged jet to cross the sea, most likely to conceal evidence of their crime.” Sybiha asserted that “photos and videos from the cabin and after the crash are a smoking gun” and called for an investigation to ensure those responsible are held accountable.
In contrast, on Thursday, the Russian government cautioned against speculating on the cause of the passenger plane crash in Kazakhstan.
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