Azerbaijani officials quoted in multiple reports said Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8432 was shot down by Russian air defenses.
Azerbaijan’s preliminary investigation into the deadly air crash in Kazakhstan has concluded that the airliner was shot down by Russian air defense systems, multiple media reported.
Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8432 crashed on Wednesday near the city of Aktau on its way to Grozny, the capital of Russia’s southern Chechen region, killing 38 people and injuring 29 others.
Azerbaijan has not yet released the results of its investigation into the disaster, but authorities have concluded that Russian anti-aircraft missiles were to blame, Euronews, Wall Street Journal, Anadolu Agency and Reuters reported on Thursday, anonymously. It was reported by citing. sources familiar with the investigation said.
Reuters, citing sources, said the plane came under fire from Russia’s Pantsir-S artillery battery after its communications were paralyzed by an electronic warfare system on approach to Grozny.
Reuters, citing sources, said the shooting at the plane was not believed to be intentional.
Citing government sources, Euronews said the plane was not allowed to land in Russia after the pilot requested an emergency landing and was instead instructed to fly across the Caspian Sea to Aktau.
Al Jazeera was unable to independently verify this claim.
Russia’s Federal Air Transport Service initially said the plane had been forced to make an emergency landing after colliding with a flock of birds.
Reports of Russian involvement came after aviation experts suggested that Russian air defenses were likely responsible, as there was visible damage to the rear of the plane.
Embraer 190s have been flying over parts of Russia’s North Caucasus in recent weeks, which have been targeted by Ukrainian drones, and the Russian Defense Ministry shot down dozens of them on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. reported.
Footage of the crashed plane posted on social media showed the plane plummeting before hitting the ground and bursting into flames.
Russia has warned against speculation about the cause of the crash, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov telling reporters: “It would be a mistake to formulate hypotheses before the investigation has concluded.”
Kazakhstan, which is also investigating the crash, declined to speculate on the cause until it releases its own findings.
Azerbaijan observed a day of remembrance for the crash victims on Thursday, with residents of the former Soviet nation observing a moment of silence as national flags were lowered and traffic was halted across the country.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said: “This is a great tragedy and a great sadness for the Azerbaijani people.”
