Azerbaijani airline's plane shot down by Russia: sources

BAKU,— An Azerbaijan Airlines flight that crashed in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, killing all 38 people on board, is believed to have been downed by Russian air defense systems, according to preliminary findings from an Azerbaijani investigation.

Flight J2-8243, an Embraer passenger jet, was traveling from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny in Russia’s Chechnya region when it veered off course and flew hundreds of miles across the Caspian Sea. The plane ultimately crashed in a fiery explosion near Aktau, a city on Kazakhstan’s western coast.

Initially, Russian aviation authorities suggested that the plane might have experienced an emergency, potentially caused by a bird strike.

However, sources familiar with the investigation told Reuters that early findings point to a different cause. The sources indicated that the plane was hit by a Russian Pantsir-S air defense system while approaching Grozny, with electronic warfare systems reportedly disabling the aircraft’s communications.

Although it remains unclear why the plane diverted its course, one source stated that Baku expects Russia to acknowledge its role in the downing, though no evidence suggests the incident was intentional. The source further emphasized that the evidence gathered thus far supports the theory of Russian involvement.

Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister, Qanat Bozymbaev, stopped short of confirming the allegations but said he could neither confirm nor deny the claim that Russian air defenses were responsible for the crash.

Meanwhile, the Kazakh transport prosecutor in the region where the crash occurred stated that the investigation is ongoing, and no final conclusions have been reached.

Russian officials have declined to comment directly on the accusations.

The Russian Ministry of Defense has not responded to requests for clarification, and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov urged caution, emphasizing that it would be inappropriate to speculate before the completion of the investigation.

“The investigation should run its course,” Peskov said. “It is wrong to draw conclusions before all the facts are gathered.” As authorities continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the crash, the investigation remains in its early stages.

In a similar incident, on July 17, 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down by Russia over eastern Ukraine. The plane, traveling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, carried 283 passengers and 15 crew members, all of whom were killed. Among the passengers were 196 Dutch citizens.

Azerbaijan Suspends More Flights to Russia Amid Safety Concerns

Azerbaijan’s national airline announced Friday it is halting flights to additional Russian cities, citing safety concerns following a recent crash that experts widely attribute to Russian air defense fire.

The airline’s decision follows similar moves by other carriers. Kazakhstan’s Qazaq Air said Friday it will pause its Astana-to-Yekaterinburg route for one month, impacting travel to the Russian city in the Ural Mountains.

On Thursday, Israeli carrier El Al suspended its Tel Aviv-to-Moscow flights, citing “developments in Russia’s airspace.” The airline plans to review the situation next week to determine if flights can resume.

These announcements reflect growing unease among international airlines over potential risks in Russian airspace.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, February 15, 2024. Photo: Kremlin/via iKurd.net

Putin Expresses Regret to Aliyev Over Plane Incident in Russian Territory

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday, December 28, 2024, apologized to Azerbaijan’s President over a deadly crash involving an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane in Russian airspace. The incident occurred as Russian air defenses were responding to Ukrainian drone activity.

In a statement, the Kremlin said Putin conveyed “deep condolences for the tragic incident” to the families of those killed and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

(With files from Reuters | AP)