MOSCOW: Chief of Russia’s aviation Dmitry Yadrov on Friday said that the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines flight, which was enroute from Baku to Grozny, occurred as Ukrainian drones were targeting the area.
Head of Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency Rosaviatsiya said that Ukrainian combat drones were carrying out attacks in the cities of Grozny and Vladikavkaz at that time, forcing the Grozny airport to require the immediate departure of all aircraft from the specified area.
“In addition, there was thick fog in the area of the Grozny airport. There was no visibility at an altitude of 500 meters,” he added.
Yadrov said the pilot made two unsuccessful attempts to land the aircraft in Grozny, and was also offered alternative airports for landing. The plane ultimately diverted to the Aktau airport, he said.
However, Ukraine’s presidency has said that Russia should be held accountable for the deadly plane.
“Russia must be held responsible for the downing of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane. Condolences to the relatives of the victims,” presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak said on social media.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rashad Nabiyev has said external interference is likely the cause of a recent Azerbaijani plane crash, citing preliminary investigations and survivors’ testimonies.
“Initial reports had suggested a bird strike, but experts now believe external interference was the cause of the crash,” Nabiyev said, adding that the exact type of weapon used still needs to be determined, according to AZERTAC news agency’s report on Friday.
Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashed near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, with 62 passengers and five crew onboard, Kazakh authorities said, adding that 29 people had survived.
The passenger aircraft was flying from the Azerbaijani capital Baku on the western shore of the Caspian Sea to Grozny in Chechnya in southern Russia.
Earlier, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the cause of the air crash would be determined through official investigations.
The incident adds to a series of aviation challenges in the area, with both the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the use of advanced air defence and jamming technologies complicating efforts to ensure safety for commercial flights in the area.
