Did Russia Shoot Down an Azerbaijani Plane..?
World
A U.S. official stated that there are preliminary indications that the plane was hit by a Russian air defense system. Russia and Kazakhstan deny speculations regarding the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane.
The statement came after a Ukrainian National Security Service official and several sources in Azerbaijan claimed that the crash, which occurred on Christmas Day and claimed 38 lives, was caused by Russian air defense fire.
The plane, flying from Azerbaijan's capital Baku to Grozny in Chechnya, Russia, deviated hundreds of kilometers from its planned route and crashed into a field near Aktau, Kazakhstan. Twenty-nine people survived.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing, adding that it would be "inappropriate" to speculate before the investigation is complete.
The chairman of Kazakhstan's Senate also noted that the cause remains unknown. "None of the countries involved — Azerbaijan, Russia, or Kazakhstan — have any interest in withholding information. All details will be made public," said Maulen Ashimbayev.
He described the claims of an air defense strike as "baseless and unethical."
On Thursday, a U.S. official told Reuters that there are preliminary indications suggesting that the Azerbaijan Airlines plane might have been hit by a Russian air defense system. This accusation was corroborated by four Azerbaijan-based sources interviewed by Reuters. All four, who were familiar with the investigation, stated that the plane was shot down by a Russian air defense system.
One source told Reuters that initial findings indicate the plane was struck by Russia's Pantsir-S air defense system and that its communications were disrupted by electronic warfare systems as it approached Grozny.
"No one claims this was done intentionally," the source said. "However, based on the identified facts, Baku expects the Russian side to acknowledge that the Azerbaijani plane was shot down."
The Azerbaijani news site Calibre also claimed that the plane was fired upon by Russia's Pantsir-S air defense system as it approached Grozny. The report questioned why Russian authorities had not closed the airport following Wednesday's drone attack and why there was no emergency landing in Grozny or nearby Russian airports after the plane was hit.
Russian media speculated that the plane might have been mistaken for a Ukrainian drone and shot down by Russian air defense forces.
The Telegram channel Fighterbomber, operated by Russian army captain Ilya Tumanov, released a video showing holes in the wreckage of the plane, which some argued resembled damage from gunfire or an explosion. Fighterbomber suggested the holes might also have been caused by a bird strike, which cannot be ruled out.
Kazakh aviation expert Serik Mukhtybayev told Orda that a bird strike at the altitude where the crash occurred is "nearly impossible." He pointed to external interference as a possible cause.
According to flight tracking data from flight24 , the plane appeared to make movements resembling the figure eight as it approached Aktau airport, with its altitude fluctuating significantly in the final moments before crashing to the ground.
The plane, flying from Azerbaijan's capital Baku to Grozny in Chechnya, Russia, deviated hundreds of kilometers from its planned route and crashed into a field near Aktau, Kazakhstan. Twenty-nine people survived.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing, adding that it would be "inappropriate" to speculate before the investigation is complete.
The chairman of Kazakhstan's Senate also noted that the cause remains unknown. "None of the countries involved — Azerbaijan, Russia, or Kazakhstan — have any interest in withholding information. All details will be made public," said Maulen Ashimbayev.
He described the claims of an air defense strike as "baseless and unethical."
On Thursday, a U.S. official told Reuters that there are preliminary indications suggesting that the Azerbaijan Airlines plane might have been hit by a Russian air defense system. This accusation was corroborated by four Azerbaijan-based sources interviewed by Reuters. All four, who were familiar with the investigation, stated that the plane was shot down by a Russian air defense system.
One source told Reuters that initial findings indicate the plane was struck by Russia's Pantsir-S air defense system and that its communications were disrupted by electronic warfare systems as it approached Grozny.
"No one claims this was done intentionally," the source said. "However, based on the identified facts, Baku expects the Russian side to acknowledge that the Azerbaijani plane was shot down."
The Azerbaijani news site Calibre also claimed that the plane was fired upon by Russia's Pantsir-S air defense system as it approached Grozny. The report questioned why Russian authorities had not closed the airport following Wednesday's drone attack and why there was no emergency landing in Grozny or nearby Russian airports after the plane was hit.
Russian media speculated that the plane might have been mistaken for a Ukrainian drone and shot down by Russian air defense forces.
The Telegram channel Fighterbomber, operated by Russian army captain Ilya Tumanov, released a video showing holes in the wreckage of the plane, which some argued resembled damage from gunfire or an explosion. Fighterbomber suggested the holes might also have been caused by a bird strike, which cannot be ruled out.
Kazakh aviation expert Serik Mukhtybayev told Orda that a bird strike at the altitude where the crash occurred is "nearly impossible." He pointed to external interference as a possible cause.
According to flight tracking data from flight24 , the plane appeared to make movements resembling the figure eight as it approached Aktau airport, with its altitude fluctuating significantly in the final moments before crashing to the ground.
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