Azerbaijani Plane Crash Possibly Linked to Russian Anti-Aircraft Fire

Astana (Eurotoday) – Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243 crashed in Kazakhstan, likely due to Russian anti-aircraft fire, killing at least 38 people.

Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243 collision in Kazakhstan was “probably” induced by Russian anti-aircraft fire, reports The Wall Street Journal, citing Ukrainian authorities, Russian military bloggers, and aviation specialists.

In southwestern Kazakhstan, an Azerbaijani airliner carrying 67 people crashed, killing at least 38. In a sprawling rescue procedure, 29 survivors including two children were dragged from the wreckage around the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev expressed, adding that 11 were in serious condition. Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243 was journeying from the Azerbaijani capital Baku to Grozny in the Russian area of Chechnya before it pushed an emergency landing about 3 kilometres from Aktau.

There were 5 crew members and 62 passengers on the plane, Kazakhstan’s transport ministry stated in a preliminary report. It expressed that 37 of the passengers were Azerbaijan nationals, six from Kazakhstan three from Kyrgyzstan and 16 from Russia according to preliminary data. 

Were Russian anti-aircraft systems involved in the crash?

As reported by Russian military bloggers, the crack in the Embraer 190 compares to the effect of anti-aircraft guns. Osprey Flight Solutions, a business that provides safety data for airlines, also doubts that the aircraft was shot down, blank” rel=”noopener”>reports The Wall Street Journal. “Visuals of the destruction and airspace security states in southwest Russia demonstrate that it is likely that the plane was struck by some form of anti-aircraft artillery,” Osprey Flight Solutions stated.

Russia’s aviation watchdog reported that preliminary information indicated the pilot had chosen to push an emergency landing after a bird hit. Officials did not immediately clarify why the plane had traveled the sea, but the collision came shortly after drone strikes hit southern Russia. Drone movement has closed airports in the region in the past, and the closest Russian airport on the plane’s flight path was shut.

How did Russia react?

Russia spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated it would be wrong to assume the cause of the plane crash before an investigation had been performed, according to Russian state media RIA Novosti. Russian President Vladimir Putin voiced his condolences to those affected by the crash and expressed a Russian Emergencies Ministry aircraft with medical personnel and gear is flying to Kazakhstan to help.

“Let’s hope for a speedy recovery of the injured ones and, of course, I am sure, a thorough investigation will be performed. We will blend the work of our special and aviation services on all matters related to this tragedy,” he stated during a conference for the Commonwealth of Independent States.