Investigations were launched by Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Russia following a plane crash, with Russia receiving intense scrutiny two days later. The Kremlin cautioned against premature conclusions, while President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, known for strengthening relations with Russia, advised against speculation. Aliyev explained that the plane had diverted to Aktau airport due to bad weather between Baku and Grozny before crashing upon landing. Russia’s civil aviation authority suggested a bird strike caused the crash, but a U.S. official hinted at the possibility of a Russian anti-aircraft system involvement in a region of conflict between Ukrainian and Russian forces. Concerns were raised about the damage on the fuselage not aligning with a bird strike, with experts suggesting an airborne weapon may have been responsible. Azerbaijan Airlines mentioned “external physical and technical interference,” while Russia’s aviation agency head referenced a Ukrainian drone attack near Grozny during the crash. The United States offered assistance to the investigation, while experts continued to question the bird strike theory and considered the possibility of an air defense missile causing the crash.
Speaking to reporters on a conference call, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on Friday regarding the claims of possible Russian involvement in the crash. Peskov stated that it would be up to investigators to determine the cause of the incident. Some survivors of the crash reported hearing an explosion before the plane went down.
“Ukrainian drones were active at the time, and this is consistent with the information we have seen regarding the pilots’ communication with air traffic control,” Crump conveyed to the BBC.
A drone’s perspective reveals the crash site of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane near the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan, on December 25, 2024. Ukraine has extensively utilized explosive drones to target Russian military and infrastructure within the larger neighboring country’s western territory over the past year. In response, Russia frequently intercepts the drones using its air defense systems.
The circumstances surrounding the Azerbaijan Airlines crash and the extent of the wreckage echo the tragic downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in 2014. The passenger jet was struck by a missile launched by Russian-backed forces over Eastern Ukraine, resulting in the loss of all 298 individuals on board.
Among those seeking answers in the recent tragedy in Kazakhstan are the survivors of the crash. One man, speaking from a hospital bed, recalled sitting next to his wife on the doomed flight. “I haven’t seen my wife since,” he lamented.
Investigators successfully retrieved both of the crucial “black boxes” — the flight data and cockpit voice recorders — from the crash site. Specialists from Brazil, the country where the aircraft was manufactured, were scheduled to arrive in Kazakhstan on Friday to assist in recovering and analyzing the data contained within the recorders.
As the formal investigations progressed, the Ukrainian government called for Russia to be held accountable for the crash, prompting Azerbaijan Airlines to suspend scheduled services to seven cities in Russia.
In a separate incident, an investigation was initiated after a body was discovered in the wheel well of a United Airlines plane in Maui. Additionally, a popular cat food brand was recalled following a death linked to bird flu. Trump aides held meetings with top Canadian officials in Florida amidst a strained relationship between the two countries.
