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Azerbaijan Airlines has suspended flights to eight additional Russian airports after a flight intended to carry passengers from Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, crashed “due to external physical and technical interference,” the airline announced.
Reports suggest that a Russian anti-aircraft missile may have been responsible for the disaster.
The airline noted in a post on X that as of December 28, flights from Baku to eight Russian airports were suspended. The announcement adds to the previous suspension of flights between Baku and two other Russian airports.
“This decision, made in accordance with the State Civil Aviation Authority of Azerbaijan, is based on the preliminary results of the investigation into the accident of the Embraer 190 aircraft operating the Baku-Grozny flight J2-8243 of Azerbaijan Airlines due to external factors physical and technical interference and considers potential risks to the safety of the flight. The suspension will remain in force until the completion of the final investigation,” the airline explained in post X.
Evidence collection efforts are underway at the crash site of a Kazakhstan Airlines (AZAL) passenger aircraft near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on December 27, 2024. (Meiramgul Kussainova/Anadolu via Getty Images)
“It should be noted that on December 25, AZAL decided to suspend flights from Baku to Grozny and Makhachkala,” the post notes.
The airline had previously reported that there were 62 passengers and five crew members on board the flight. Reports indicate that there were only 29 survivors.
Preliminary results of Azerbaijan’s investigation into the fatal incident suggest that the plane was hit by a Russian anti-aircraft missile, or shrapnel from such a missile, said people briefed on the investigation, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Emergency specialists work at the crash site of a Kazakhstan Airlines passenger plane near the city of Aktau, western Kazakhstan, on December 25, 2024. (ISSA TAZHENBAYEV/AFP via Getty Images)
Fox News Digital contacted the Press and Information Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry for comment.
A source familiar with the Azerbaijan investigation told Reuters that preliminary results indicated that the plane was hit by a Russian Pantsir-S air defense system; Electronic warfare systems paralyzed communications as the plane approached Grozny, the source said, according to the outlet.
Emergency specialists work at the crash site of a Kazakhstan Airlines passenger plane near the city of Aktau, western Kazakhstan, on December 25, 2024. (ISSA TAZHENBAYEV/AFP via Getty Images)
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“No one claims that this was done on purpose. However, taking into account the established facts, Baku expects the Russian side to confess to the downing of the Azerbaijani plane,” the source said, according to Reuters.
