Azerbaijan Airlines The Russian airline announced that it has suspended its flights to eight additional Russian airports after a flight intended to transport passengers from the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, to Grozny, Russia, crashed “due to external material and technical interference.”
Reports indicate that A Russian anti-aircraft missile He may have been responsible for the disaster.
The airline noted in a post on the X website that as of December 28, flights from Baku to eight Russian airports were suspended. This announcement comes in addition to the prior suspension of flights between Baku and two other Russian airports.
“This decision, taken in accordance with the Azerbaijan State Civil Aviation Authority, is based on the preliminary results of the investigation into the crash of the Embraer 190 operating the Baku-Grozny flight J2-8243 of Azerbaijan Airlines due to external material and technical factors.” The airline explained in X's post that the suspension will remain in place until the final investigation is completed.
Russia plays down speculation over deadly Azerbaijan Airlines crash as report blames downed plane
Evidence collection efforts are underway at the site of the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) passenger plane near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on December 27, 2024. (Miramgül Kusinova/Anadolu via Getty Images)
“It should be noted that on December 25, AZAL decided to suspend its flights from Baku to Grozny and Makhachkala,” the publication noted.
The airline had previously reported that there were 62 passengers and five crew members on board. Reports indicate that there were only 29 survivors.
Preliminary results of Azerbaijan's investigation into the fatal accident indicate that the plane was hit by a Russian anti-aircraft missile, or fragments of that missile, individuals familiar with the investigation indicated, according to a UN spokesman. Wall Street Journal.
Blame Russia for Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash hundreds of miles off course, killing dozens
Emergency specialists work at the site of the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane near the western Kazakh city of Aktau on December 25, 2024. (Isa Tazinbayev/AFP via Getty Images)
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Russian Foreign Ministry's Information and Press Department for comment.
A source familiar with the Azerbaijani investigation He told Reuters The source stated that preliminary results indicate that the plane was hit by a Russian Pantsir-S air defense system, and that electronic warfare systems paralyzed communications as the plane approached Grozny.
Emergency specialists work at the site of the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane near the western Kazakh city of Aktau on December 25, 2024. (Esa Tazinbayev/AFP via Getty Images)
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The source indicated, according to Reuters, that “no one claims that this was done intentionally. But taking into account the established facts, Baku expects the Russian side to admit to shooting down the Azerbaijani plane.”
