White House spokesman John Kirby reported that the United States has observed “early indications” suggesting that Russia may have played a role in the downing of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane, which crashed on December 25, resulting in the deaths of 38 individuals.
Mr. Kirby refrained from providing additional details but informed reporters that the United States had extended its support for the crash investigation.
Reports indicate that the aircraft may have been targeted by Russian air defence systems while attempting to land in Chechnya. Subsequently, it was redirected across the Caspian Sea to Kazakhstan, where it ultimately crashed.
The Kremlin has opted not to provide a statement. Yet, the leader of Russia’s civil aviation agency acknowledged that the circumstances in Chechnya are “very complicated” as a result of Ukrainian drone strikes targeting the area.
According to Mr Kirby, the evidence observed by the US extends beyond the widely shared images of the damaged aircraft, as reported by the Washington Post.
Aviation experts and various stakeholders in Azerbaijan think that the aircraft’s GPS systems experienced interference due to electronic jamming, subsequently sustaining damage from shrapnel resulting from Russian air defence missile explosions.
Azerbaijan has refrained from directly accusing Russia; however, the nation’s transport minister indicated that the aircraft experienced “external interference” and sustained internal and external damage during its landing attempt.
Rashad Nabiyev reported, “Every survivor, without exception, indicated that they heard three blast sounds while the aircraft was flying over Grozny.”
Mr Nabiyev stated that investigators will now look into “the type of weapon, or more specifically, the kind of rocket that was utilized.”
Pro-government MP Rasim Musabekov stated unequivocally, “The plane was shot down over Russian territory, in the skies above Grozny.” It is impossible to deny this.
The pilot reported to the AFP news agency that the aircraft sustained damage and requested an emergency landing in Grozny. He stated that rather than being routed to nearby airports, the flight was “sent far away” across the Caspian Sea without GPS.
Flight attendant Zulfuqar Asadov recounted the harrowing moments when the aircraft was struck by what he described as “some kind of external strike” while flying over Chechnya.
The event’s repercussions triggered a wave of panic within the premises. Efforts were made to soothe the individuals and encourage them to take their seats. In that instant, another blow occurred, resulting in an injury to my arm.
The pilots of the Embraer 190 are being hailed for their heroic efforts in saving 29 lives during a tragic crash, managing to land part of the aircraft even as they lost their own lives in the incident.
The Kremlin has declined to provide any commentary regarding the growing number of reports suggesting that a plane belonging to Azerbaijan Airlines was struck by Russian air defence systems.
Dmitry Peskov, the spokesman, stated, “An investigation into this aviation incident is underway, and until the conclusions are drawn from this investigation, we do not believe we are in a position to provide any assessments.”
The authorities in Kazakhstan are actively providing medical care to the injured while collaborating with Azerbaijan on the ongoing investigation.
Sources in Baku indicate that Russia and Kazakhstan have proposed a committee from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a regional organization largely influenced by Russia, to investigate the crash. However, Azerbaijan has called for an international investigation instead.
