Russia claims that the Grozny area was being targeted by Ukrainian drones
MADRID, 27 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Azerbaijan Airlines reported this Friday that, according to preliminary data, the plane crash on December 25 near the Aktau airport in Kazakhstan was caused by “external physical and technical interference,” amid speculation from Ukraine about Russia’s responsibility.
The airline has explained that taking into account the “risks” that exist, it has decided to suspend flights starting this Saturday from Baku, capital of Azerbaijan, to the Russian airports of Mineralnie Vodi until the accident investigation is completed. , Sochi, Volgograd, Ufa, Samara.
On Christmas Day, an Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 plane covering the Baku-Grozny route crashed three kilometers from the airport in the Kazakh city of Aktau, leaving 38 dead and 29 injured, most of them seriously.
Due to thick fog in Grozny, it was diverted to Makhachkala in Russian Dagestan and then to Aktau. During the change of route, the crew sounded the emergency signal due to events that are still unknown, although it has been speculated that a flock of birds damaged one of the engines, or there was an explosion of an oxygen tank in the cockpit, which made the pilots lose control.
However, kyiv has insisted that the plane would have been hit by Russian air defenses, at a time when drone attacks by Ukrainian forces have increased over Chechnya, which has Grozny as its capital.
The head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Andri Yermak, urged the international community this Friday to hold Russia “responsible” for “the downing” of the plane. Meanwhile, the Kremlin has once again indicated that it will not make any statements on the matter until the ongoing investigation is completed.
“An investigation is underway and until there are conclusions, we do not consider ourselves entitled to give any assessment and we will not do so,” said Kremlin spokesman Dimitri Peskov, when asked about the words of a deputy from Azerbaijan who has demanded that Russia apologize.
For his part, the head of the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency, Dimitri Yadrov, noted that the situation that day around Grozny airport “was very difficult”, with “dense fog” and Ukrainian combat drones flying over the area. Chechen capital, or cities like Vladikavkaz.
“The commander of the plane tried twice to land in Grozny, but was unsuccessful (…) he was offered other airports,” but “he chose Aktau. There are many different circumstances that must be investigated together,” said Yadrov, who has highlighted Russia’s “total and broad willingness” to cooperate.