Did Russia shoot down the Azerbaijani plane? When the holes in the tail section of the plane were examined, the claim that the plane was shot down by the Russian air defense system came to the fore. Azerbaijani officials also confirmed this claim. Although the Kremlin did not remain silent, it did not go unnoticed that it did not deny the allegation in its response. Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, “We need to wait until the investigation is completed.” The claim that the Russian Pantsir-S air defense system was behind the deaths of 38 people still remains one of the strong scenarios. With the discovery of both black boxes of the plane, all eyes are on Russia once again.
HE WAS GOING TO GO TO CHECHNISTAN, BUT FALLED IN KAZAKHSTAN
Yesterday, the ‘Embraer 190’ type passenger plane belonging to Azerbaijan Airlines, which took off from Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Chechnya, Russia, crashed near the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan. There were a total of 67 people on the plane, 5 of whom were crew and 62 of whom were passengers. It was announced that 37 of the passengers were citizens of Azerbaijan, 6 of Kazakhstan, 3 of Kyrgyzstan and 16 of Russia. 38 people lost their lives in the accident and 29 people were rescued.
Kazakh officials gave a briefing to the press about the plane crash in Aktau city. Kazakhstan Minister of Transport Karabayev shared the chronology of the accident, as the Embraer 190 type plane belonging to the Azerbaijani Airline Company AZAL, which was operating the Baku-Grozny flight, crashed near the country’s Aktau city.
Stating that they received the first signal at 10.43 Kazakhstan time by the officers of Russia’s Rostov air control center, Karabayev said that this signal stated that the crew decided to fly to Aktau, Kazakhstan, due to the weather conditions in Makhachkala and Baku.
Karabayev stated that the plane lost its control systems before entering Kazakhstan airspace and said, “At 10.53, the Rostov flight director gave additional information to the flight manager in Aktau that the oxygen tank in the passenger cabin of the plane had exploded, the passengers lost consciousness and a request for medical intervention was requested upon landing.” he said.
Stating that emergency teams were immediately prepared at Aktau airport after this, Karabayev said, “At 11.02, the aircraft pilots contacted the air traffic officer of the Aktau airport tower. The officer provided all necessary procedures to land the plane at the airport. “Runway lights were turned on to ensure visual contact of the aircraft with the runway.” he said.
Karabayev stated that the crew made two attempts to land on the runway, but in the meantime, altitude loss and instability in the route were observed, and communication with the crew was lost at 11.28, and the plane crashed into the ground.
2 BLACK BOXES OF THE PLANE WERE FOUND
Aktau Regional Transport Prosecutor Abılaybek Ordabayev also stated that crime scene investigations are continuing.
Noting that they carried out the crime scene investigation in cooperation with Azerbaijan, Ordabayev stated that the statements of those who survived the plane and those who witnessed the accident were taken, and that the work to collect evidence, including the wreckage of the plane, continues.
Stating that the crime scene was a large area of 4 thousand square meters and was surrounded to ensure security, Ordabayev noted that the plane’s two black boxes were also found.
Ordabayev added that the identities of 9 of the 38 people who died in the plane crash have been identified.
THE CLAIM THAT THE PASSENGER PLANE THAT CRASHED IN KAZAKHSTAN WAS “DROWN DOWN BY THE RUSSIAN AIR DEFENSE SYSTEM”
Meanwhile, a remarkable claim was made regarding the cause of the plane crash. In its report, the US-based Wall Street Journal newspaper claimed that, looking at the holes in the tail section of the plane making the Baku-Grozny flight, “it may have been shot down by the Russian air defense system” over Chechnya, a Russian territory. According to the news, UK-based independent aviation security firm Osprey Flight Solutions stated that the plane was “probably shot down by the Russian air defense system.” “Given the video of the wreckage and the security situation in the airspace in southwestern Russia, the circumstances suggest it is likely that the plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire,” said Matt Borie, the firm’s intelligence officer.
“THE PLANE WAS NOT ALLOWED TO LAND AT ANY AIRPORT IN RUSSIA”
Euronews news channel stated in its special report that Azerbaijani government sources confirmed that the plane crashed due to a Russian-made surface-to-air missile. The news said, “According to sources, the missile was fired at flight J2-8243 during the flight activity of unmanned aerial vehicles over Grozny, and the shrapnel exploded right next to the plane, hitting the passengers and cabin crew.” Government sources stated that despite the pilots’ requests for an emergency landing, the damaged plane was not allowed to land at any airport in Russia and was ordered to fly towards Aktau, Kazakhstan, over the Caspian Sea.
“IT WAS SHOT BY THE PANTSIR-S AIR DEFENSE SYSTEM”
AnewZ channel, broadcasting in Azerbaijan, stated in its special news based on Azerbaijani government sources that, according to the preliminary results of the investigation, it was determined that the Azerbaijan Airlines plane, which made the Baku-Grozny flight, was shot down by the Russian Pantsir-S air defense system as it approached the city of Grozny. The news said, “In addition, as a result of the Russian side’s use of electronic warfare systems, the communication system of the Azerbaijani plane was completely paralyzed. The plane disappeared from radar in Russian airspace and became operational again only in the Caspian Sea region. According to Russian sources, during the flight over the territory of Chechnya, Russian air defense forces, Ukraine was trying to shoot down its UAVs. Chairman of the Chechen Security Council, Khamzat Kadyrov, confirmed that a UAV attack took place in Grozny on the morning of December 25, and that there was no loss of life or damage. In such a situation, the Russian side had to close the airspace to civilian aircraft, but as it is known, the airport in Grozny did not allow the plane to land, and the air defense system and electronic warfare systems were not allowed to land. The crew of the exposed plane was advised to land in Aktau, Kazakhstan. This suggestion probably had only one purpose: If the plane crashed into the Caspian Sea, all witnesses would die. and the plane would sink.”
SENIOR UKRAINIAN OFFICIAL ALSO ACCLAIMED RUSSIA
Andriy Kovalenko, Head of the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council Counter-Disinformation Center, also held Russia responsible for the accident in his post on his social media account. Kovalenko said, “The Embraer 190 type aircraft belonging to Azerbaijan Airlines, flying from Baku to Grozny, was shot down by the Russian air defense system. Efforts will be made to cover up this situation, including the holes in the rear of the aircraft. Images taken from inside the plane during the flight show punctured life jackets and other damage. Russia was supposed to close airspace over Grozny, but did not do so. The plane was damaged by the Russians and was sent to Kazakhstan instead of being immediately landed in Grozny for lifesaving purposes. “In one word, Russia,” he said.
KREMLIN: “WE SHOULD WAIT FOR THE RESULT OF THE INVESTIGATION”
Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in a statement regarding the allegations: “It would be wrong to put forward any hypotheses before the results of the investigation. Of course we won’t do that. Nobody should. “We need to wait until the investigation is completed,” he said.
“ALL INFORMATION WILL BE DISCLOSED TO THE PUBLIC”
President of the Senate of Kazakhstan Ashimbayev Maulen also emphasized in his statement that the cause of the plane crash is not yet known. “None of these countries – Azerbaijan, Russia or Kazakhstan – are interested in hiding information,” Maulen said. “All information will be made public,” he said.
ANSWER FROM THE KREMLIN TO THE CLAIM THAT THE PLANE WAS ‘DROWN DOWN BY THE RUSSIAN AIR DEFENSE SYSTEM’
Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, in his statement on the allegations that the plane was shot down by the Russian air defense system, said, “It would be wrong to put forward any hypotheses before the results of the investigation. Of course we won’t do that. Nobody should. “We need to wait until the investigation is completed,” he said.
WHAT HAPPENED?
The Embraer 190 type aircraft belonging to AZAL, which was on the Baku-Grozny flight, crashed near the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan, on December 25.
AZAL announced that there were 67 people on the plane, including 5 crew members and 62 passengers.
It was reported that 38 people died in the accident and 29 people survived.
Speaking to AA, Azerbaijani officials confirmed the claim that the plane was attacked by the Russian “Pantsir-S” air defense system.
(AA-DHA)