Azerbaijan Airlines has suspended flights between Baku and several Russian cities following a plane crash in Kazakhstan that killed 38 people. The airline announced that flights to Sochi, Mineralnye Vody, Volgograd, Ufa, and Samara will be halted for safety reasons until the investigation into the crash of Flight 8432 is complete. Preliminary findings suggest the passenger plane may have been shot down by a Russian surface-to-air missile. The Kremlin has declined to comment on the allegations and has stated it will wait for the investigation’s outcome. Azerbaijan Airlines later confirmed that external interference, possibly GPS jamming, may have been a factor in the crash.
Russian authorities initially blamed a bird strike for the plane crash but some aviation experts doubted this explanation, pointing to video footage that showed the plane experiencing hydraulic issues. Russia’s civil aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, suggested that the plane was rerouted away from Chechnya due to thick fog and Ukrainian drone activity disrupting airspace over the North Caucasus. A “carpet regime” was implemented requiring all aircraft to leave the airspace of Kadyrov Grozny International Airport. Azerbaijani media reported that Russian ground control did not close airspace to civilian aircraft at that time.
As the investigation into the crash continues, Azerbaijani lawmakers are demanding accountability from Russia. They expect Russia to accept responsibility, punish those to blame, promise it will not happen again, express regrets, and be prepared to pay compensation. Azerbaijani MP Rasim Musabekov emphasized the importance of Russia acknowledging its role in the crash and taking appropriate action. The investigation will determine the cause of the crash and potentially shed light on any external interference that may have led to the tragedy.
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The situation surrounding the plane crash, including the suspension of flights and the ongoing investigation, has raised tensions between Azerbaijan and Russia. There is a call for accountability and transparency to ensure that such a tragic incident does not occur again. The allegations of external interference and the differing accounts of what led to the crash have complicated the investigation. It remains to be seen how Russia will respond to the demands for accountability and whether the investigation will provide clarity on the events that led to the tragic crash. Ultimately, the focus is on preventing similar incidents in the future and ensuring the safety of air travel in the region.
