By Reeturaj - Dec 26, 2024
Russian government warns against speculation on the cause of the crash of a Russia-bound passenger plane in Kazakhstan that claimed 38 lives. Footage of the wreckage suggests possible shrapnel damage, leading to theories of air defense system involvement. Kremlin advises waiting for investigation results, as Azerbaijan mourns victims. The Embraer 190 aircraft crashed in Kazakhstan after being diverted due to fog, with authorities recovering the flight data recorder as investigations continue.
Reuters via FMT
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The Russian government has issued a warning against speculation regarding the cause of the crash of a Russia-bound passenger plane that resulted in the deaths of 38 people in Kazakhstan. The Azerbaijani Airlines plane, carrying 67 individuals, went down near the Kazakh city of Aktau on Wednesday. Footage of the wreckage indicates possible shrapnel damage. Aviation experts have suggested that the plane may have been struck by air defense systems over the Russian republic of Chechnya.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov cautioned against making assumptions, stating that it would be inappropriate to propose any hypotheses before the investigation concludes. The Russian government has pledged to await the investigation's results before drawing any conclusions. In the meantime, Azerbaijan observed a national day of mourning on Thursday for the crash victims, with President Ilham Aliyev calling the incident a "great tragedy" that has brought "tremendous sorrow" to the Azerbaijani people.
The Embraer 190 aircraft took off from Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, on Wednesday morning, en route to Grozny in Chechnya. However, due to fog, the plane was diverted to Aktau Airport in western Kazakhstan, where it crashed while attempting to land. Footage shows the aircraft descending at high speed, bursting into flames upon impact.
Kazakh authorities have recovered the flight data recorder, and an investigation is currently underway. As this investigation continues, experts have proposed various theories regarding the crash's cause. Some suggest that the plane may have been hit by air defense systems, while others have raised the possibility of a bird strike. However, aviation analyst Richard Aboulafia has expressed skepticism about the bird strike theory, noting that such an incident would typically result in a plane gliding toward the nearest airfield instead of veering wildly off course. The cause of the crash remains unknown, and authorities have promised to release all relevant information to the public once the investigation is completed.
