Baku/Moscow – Azerbaijan is grappling with profound grief after a plane crash near Aktau, Kazakhstan, claimed multiple lives, sparking tensions and speculation over the cause of the tragedy.
President Ilham Aliyev expressed deep sorrow on Thursday, describing the tragedy as an immense loss that has profoundly impacted the Azerbaijani people as they mourn the victims.
The Embraer 190 aircraft, operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, had taken off from Baku en route to Grozny, Chechnya, but was diverted due to foggy conditions. Initial reports indicate the plane crashed approximately three kilometers from Aktau’s runway after an apparent explosion mid-flight.
In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov urged restraint. “It would be wrong to put forward any hypotheses before the investigation’s conclusions,” he stated, emphasizing the need for a thorough and impartial probe. Kazakhstan’s chief prosecutor also noted that no definitive conclusions had yet been reached.
However, Azerbaijani media outlets, many under government influence, have raised the possibility of Russian involvement. According to reports on AnewZ, preliminary findings suggest the plane may have been struck by shrapnel from a surface-to-air missile, possibly from Russia’s Pantsir-S defense system.
The Azerbaijani government has refrained from direct accusations, but sources quoted by pro-government website Caliber suggested Baku is expecting an apology from Moscow, describing the incident as a likely unintentional attack.
The joint investigation, involving Azerbaijani and Kazakh officials, appears to be gathering evidence that could implicate Russian air defenses. Analysts have questioned Russia’s failure to close its airspace during military activity and its decision to redirect the plane to Aktau rather than allowing it to land immediately.
According to a BBC Report, A passenger who survived the crash shared that the pilot made two attempts to land in Grozny before an explosion caused significant damage to the aircraft’s structure. Aviation expert Richard Aboulafia told Reuters that the pattern of damage was consistent with an air defense missile detonation.
Justin Crump from the risk advisory firm Sibylline echoed this assessment on BBC Radio 4, stating the damage appeared to result from a missile explosion at the rear and left side of the plane.
The crash occurred amid heightened regional tensions. Chechnya and neighboring regions have been targeted by Ukrainian drone strikes in recent weeks, with a shopping center in North Ossetia hit earlier this month.
While bird strikes were initially suggested by Russian state media as the cause, aviation experts have dismissed this theory, citing the catastrophic nature of the crash.
The tragedy has claimed the lives of passengers predominantly from Azerbaijan, with others from Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Video footage captured survivors crawling from the wreckage, many visibly injured.
Kazakh authorities have recovered the flight data recorder, and investigations continue as survivors and victims’ families await answers. On Thursday, Azerbaijan’s Azertac news agency reported that seven injured passengers were stable enough to return to Baku.
Azerbaijan Airlines confirmed that the aircraft had undergone full maintenance in October and had no technical issues. The Embraer 190, manufactured by Brazilian aviation firm Embraer, boasts a strong safety record.
As the investigation unfolds, President Aliyev’s administration faces the challenge of balancing its response while seeking clarity and justice for those affected by the devastating crash.
