Euronews reports that a Russian surface-to-air missile caused the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane near Aktau. According to sources, the missile was launched at flight 8432 during drone activity over Grozny.
Preliminary reports suggest that a Russian missile was the cause of the plane crash in Aktau, says Euronews, citing its sources, Trend reports.
Euronews reports that a Russian surface-to-air missile caused the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane near Aktau.
According to sources, the missile was launched at flight 8432 during drone activity over Grozny.
"Missile fragments struck the passengers and crew, detonating close to the aircraft mid-flight," the sources revealed.
It was also reported that the plane’s GPS navigation systems were jammed throughout its route over the sea.
On December 25, an Embraer 190 passenger plane operated by AZAL, flying from Baku to Grozny, crashed 3 kilometers from Aktau Airport.
The flight carried 67 people, including 62 passengers and 5 crew members.
Following the crash, 27 people were hospitalized. Among them, 15 were citizens of Azerbaijan, 8 of Russia, and 3 of Kyrgyzstan. The identity of one individual remains unknown.
Of those hospitalized, 11 are being treated in intensive care, 13 in the trauma department, 2 in neurosurgery, and 1 in the surgical ward. They are under the care of experienced doctors from Kazakhstan, as well as specialists sent from Azerbaijan and Russia, and have received prompt medical and psychological support.
Both pilots and a flight attendant were killed in the crash, while two other crew members survived.
Azerbaijan declared December 26 a national day of mourning.
The plane’s black box has been recovered, and its analysis is being conducted under international aviation conventions. The investigation into the crash is ongoing, with final conclusions expected after all necessary research and data analysis are completed.
Source: https://en.trend.az/iran/3987037.html
Editor's note: We present the information as interpreted by the Trend news agency, which can be considered perhaps the most serious media outlet in Azerbaijan. The fact that the news agency refers to the information from Euronews is more than indicative and shows that, despite the restraint of the official authorities of Azerbaijan, they share the views expressed in the Euronews article.
Baku is undoubtedly in a very delicate situation, first of all because the incident took place over the territory of one of its most friendly countries and its strategic ally – Kazakhstan. Moreover, the fact that the cause was most likely a Russian anti-aircraft missile also foreshadows diplomatic upheavals for obvious reasons. The publication of the statement by Euronews that a Russian anti-aircraft missile shot down the Azerbaijani passenger plane suggests that this will soon become the official position of Azerbaijan, although for now Baku is patiently awaiting an investigation, which will most likely be carried out by Kazakhstan without the participation of Russian or Azerbaijani experts.
The original Euronews article can be read at: https://www.euronews.com