An investigation into the lethal crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines flight in Kazakhstan earlier this week got here after the passenger aircraft skilled “bodily and technical exterior interference,” the provider mentioned Friday.
The Embraer 190 crashed close to the Kazakh metropolis of Aktau on Wednesday, killing 38 of the 67 individuals on board whereas en route from Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, to Grozny, the capital of Chechnya, Russia.
According to a U.S. official, early proof indicated the aircraft could have been struck by a Russian anti-aircraft system.
On Thursday, Matthew Borie, chief intelligence officer on the aviation safety agency Osprey Flight Solutions, instructed NBC News that “the flight was possible shot down by a Russian air protection system.”
At the time of the incident, Russian air protection forces had been defending towards a Ukrainian military-grade weaponized drone assault that concerned Russia capturing down drones, he mentioned.
While Russian officers have cautioned against speculation about what induced the flight to crash, on Friday, the nation’s aviation authority mentioned the scenario round Grozny, Chechnya, was “very difficult” when the aircraft was diverted to Kazakhstan the place it crashed.
Rosaviatsia, Russia’s aviation authority, cited the presence of “Ukrainian fight drones” round Grozny. Chechnya is near Ukraine and the ongoing war with Russia.
Rosaviatsia additionally reported that dense fog within the space of Grozny airport meant there was no visibility at an altitude of about 1,600 toes. The pilot was provided different airports, however selected to proceed to the Kazakh metropolis of Aktau after two unsuccessful makes an attempt to land in Grozny, in accordance with an announcement issued by Dmitry Yadrov, head of Rosaviatsia.
On Friday, Azerbaijan Airlines mentioned it had additionally suspended flights from Baku to 5 extra Russian airports. This determination follows the suspension of flights from Baku to Grozny and Makhachkala, launched Wednesday.
“The suspension will stay in impact till the completion of the ultimate investigation,” in accordance with an announcement posted on the airline’s Telegram channel Friday.
