Azerbaijan Airlines has suspended flights to eight more Russian airports after a plane scheduled to carry passengers from Azerbaijan's capital Baku to Russia's Grozny crashed “due to external physical and technical interference.” announced.
According to reports, a Russian anti-aircraft missile may have caused the disaster.
Flights from Baku to eight Russian airports have been suspended since December 28, the airline said in a post on X. The announcement came in addition to an earlier suspension of flights between Baku and two other Russian airports.
“This decision, taken in accordance with the State Civil Aviation Authority of Azerbaijan, is based on the preliminary investigation into the crash of an Embraer 190 aircraft operating Azerbaijan Airlines Baku-Grozny flight J2-8243 due to external physical and technical factors. “Based on the findings, and considering the potential risks to operational safety, the suspension will continue until a final investigation is completed,” the airline said in a statement to XPost.
Russia downplays speculation over deadly Azerbaijan airline crash, report blames downed plane
Efforts are underway to collect evidence at the scene of the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) airliner near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on December 27, 2024. (Mayramgul 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 previously reported that the flight had 62 passengers and five crew members on board. According to reports, there were only 29 survivors.
Preliminary results of Azerbaijan's investigation into the fatal crash suggest that the plane was struck by a Russian anti-aircraft missile, or fragments of such a missile, said a person briefed on the investigation, the paper said. said. wall street journal.
Russia blamed for Azerbaijan Airlines jet that veered hundreds of miles off course and crashed, killing dozens
Emergency professionals work at the crash site of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane near the western Kazakh city of Aktau on December 25, 2024. (ISSA TAZHENBAYEV/AFP via Getty Images)
FOX News Digital has contacted the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Information and Media Service for comment.
Source familiar with Azerbaijan investigation told Reuters Preliminary results show the plane was hit by Russia's Panzer-S air defense system, the newspaper said, and an electronic warfare system crippled communications as the plane approached Grozny, officials said.
Ex-State Department official says what happened in Azerbaijan airline crash is 'very unclear'
Emergency professionals work at the crash site of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane near the western Kazakh city of Aktau on December 25, 2024. (ISSA TAZHENBAYEV/AFP via Getty Images)
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“No one claims that it was shot down on purpose. However, given the established facts, Baku expects the Russian side to confess to shooting down the Azerbaijani plane,” the official said, according to Reuters. said.
