Azerbaijan Accuses Russia of Attempting to Conceal the Cause of the Fatal Plane Crash
Azerbaijani Lawmaker Suggests Russian Air-Defense Systems May Have Caused Passenger Jet Crash
An Azerbaijani lawmaker has raised concerns that the recent crash of a passenger jet may have been the result of Russian air-defense systems being on alert for potential Ukrainian drone attacks. The Azerbaijan Airlines plane was en route from Baku to Grozny, the capital of Russia’s Chechnya region, when it crashed near Aqtau, Kazakhstan, claiming the lives of 38 passengers and crew members.
Lawmaker Hikmat Babaoghlu spoke with RFE/RL’s Azerbaijani Service and expressed his belief that the most likely explanation for the crash is that the plane was shot down. He pointed out that the incident took place within the Russian Federation’s territory, making Russia responsible for the tragedy.
As investigators and experts from Kazakhstan analyze the crash site and the black box of the ill-fated aircraft, speculation continues to mount regarding the possibility of a Russian air-defense missile striking the plane. The aviation industry in the Caucasus region has been unsettled by the tragedy, with Azerbaijan Airlines suspending flights to several Russian cities in response to airspace closures.
Reports suggest that the plane may have sustained damage from Russian air-defense systems engaged in countering Ukrainian drone attacks. White House spokesman John Kirby stated that there are indications pointing to the involvement of Russian air defense systems in the crash.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, with evidence such as footage from inside the plane, images of the damaged tail section, and survivor accounts shaping the narrative. Azerbaijani sources have indicated that the plane may have been hit by a Russian-made air-defense system.
Calls for an international commission to investigate the crash have been made, with concerns about the impartiality of potential examiners in Russia. As authorities work to determine the cause of the crash, families of the victims are mourning and seeking answers.
Azerbaijan observed a national day of mourning as survivors and the bodies of those who perished were returned. Compensation for the families of the victims and the injured has been announced, as efforts to understand the circumstances surrounding the tragedy continue.
