The Kremlin on Thursday warned in opposition to speculating what could have precipitated an Azerbaijan Airlines flight to crash, killing 38 of the 67 on board, after an aviation professional mentioned proof indicated {that a} Russian anti-missile battery could have introduced down the passenger airplane.
The Embraer 190 crashed close to the Kazakh metropolis of Aktau whereas en route from Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, to Grozny in Chechnya in Russia on Wednesday. The flight tried to make an emergency touchdown about 1.8 miles from Aktau, in keeping with Azerbaijan Airlines, however as an alternative hit the bottom, erupted right into a fiery ball and cut up into two.
President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov mentioned the investigation into the reason for the crash was underway.
“It can be incorrect to make any hypotheses earlier than the investigation involves conclusions, and we undoubtedly can not do it and nobody ought to do it,” he mentioned in his each day press convention.
Kanat Bozumbayev, the Kazakh deputy prime minister, additionally cautioned in opposition to assigning a trigger whereas the investigation is in its preliminary stage.
“The police and the prosecutor’s workplace are conducting forensic examinations,” Bozumbayev told Kazakh media on Thursday, including, “Therefore, at this level, it’s untimely to speak about something. This is pure hype.”
Putin’s and Bozumbayev’s feedback come amid rising hypothesis that Russian air defenses could also be behind the crash.
“Subsequent reporting and contextual info, together with the follow-on video examination of the wreckage … and circumstances surrounding the airspace safety surroundings in southwest Russia, leads Osprey to evaluate that the flight was possible shot down by a Russian air protection system,” mentioned Matthew Borie, chief intelligence officer on the aviation safety agency Osprey Flight Solutions.
Borie mentioned one other potential principle, that the airplane collided with a fowl or birds, would have in all probability led to stories of multiple explosion and the harm to the plane showing in a different way.
The Wall Street Journal first reported Osprey’s findings.
A U.S. official on Thursday echoed that there are indications a Russian anti-aircraft system could have struck the Azerbaijan Airlines flight, and mentioned if that proves to be the case, it could be extra proof of Russia’s recklessness in its war with Ukraine.
Borie mentioned that on the time of the incident, Russian air protection forces have been defending in opposition to a Ukrainian military-grade weaponized drone assault that concerned Russia taking pictures down drones. At least one drone was hit east of Grozny, whereas others have been shot down over Chechnya, he added.
Earlier, the top of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, Andriy Kovalenko, mentioned that the Azerbaijan Airlines airplane “was shot down by a Russian air-defense system,” citing seen harm to the airplane.
The flight’s vacation spot was Grozny, which is close to Ukraine and the ongoing war with Russia, nevertheless it was rerouted to Aktau after an emergency onboard, in keeping with an announcement issued by Russia’s aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, on Wednesday.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev echoed Peskov’s warning. “There are numerous theories, however I imagine it’s untimely to debate them. The matter should be totally investigated,” he mentioned at a gathering devoted to the incident Wednesday.
“The causes for the crash are usually not but identified,” he mentioned, including that Azerbaijan has launched its personal investigation.
Aliyev mentioned that the flight modified course due to “worsening climate circumstances” and that the “crash occurred throughout touchdown” because the airplane descended towards Aktau airport.
He declared Thursday a nationwide day of mourning in Azerbaijan.
The flight had 62 passengers and 5 crew members on board, in keeping with the Kazakh Emergencies Ministry. Later, the Kazakh Health Ministry printed a listing of 29 survivors, together with two youngsters.
At least one airline mentioned it’s altering its flights within the area in gentle of the Kazakhstan air crash. El Al, Israel’s nationwide service, introduced Thursday it’s suspending its operations on its Tel Aviv-Moscow route for the approaching week and can assess when it could resume.
