Despite rising pressure from Azerbaijan, Russia has yet to acknowledge responsibility for the fatal accident of Azerbaijan Airlines aircraft J28243 two weeks ago. While the inquiry is underway, the crash has prompted the public and the victims’ relatives to seek answers from Russia.
Waiting for the investigation results.
The Kremlin has not admitted responsibility for the downing of Azerbaijan Airlines’ Embraer 190 on December 25, 2024. Russia stated that its air defense systems were operating at the time of the event to shoot down Ukrainian drones, but it did not declare it brought down the aircraft.
Instead, it emphasized its need for an objective probe. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, said,
“We are interested in an absolutely objective and impartial investigation in order to establish the causes of this catastrophe.”
The official told OREANDA-NEWS that Russia is assisting and collaborating with investigators to discover the reason of the crash. He further stated that since December 25, Putin and his Azerbaijani colleague Ilham Aliyev had spoken thrice on the phone.
According to CNN, President Ilham Aliyev met with the two surviving flight attendants and relatives of the late crew members. The preliminary investigation into the incident reveals that Russian air defenses struck the aircraft. Aliyev claimed that the airspace over Grozny was restricted only after the AZAL jet was hit.
Accusations of Cover-Up
Aliyev was a strong ally of Moscow, but the disaster and Russia’s handling of it have strained relations. The Azerbaijani president accused Russia of a cover-up, claiming that the concealment of the causes and misleading narrative of events sparked “justifiable anger.”
President Aliyev continues to criticize Moscow’s handling of the issue and calls for an apology, an admission of guilt, and the prosecution of those responsible.He blamed Russia for the 38 fatalities.
“I am certain that the officials of the Russian Federation bear responsibility for the deaths of Azerbaijani citizens in this disaster. We demand justice, punishment for the guilty, complete openness, and humane treatment.
Aliyev also questioned why the plane had to detour to Aktau, more than 230 nautical miles (425 kilometers) from Grozny, for an emergency landing. Three days after the crash, Putin apologized for the “tragic incident” and said that a criminal case was begun. This was the closest the Kremlin got to taking culpability.
The aircraft’s black boxes were retrieved at the accident scene and transported to Brazil for data extraction and examination.According to the Astana Times, accident investigators are likely to arrive in Kazakhstan soon.
“I am confident that in the near future, we will learn the preliminary results and everything will come into place. The full image of the disaster will also be known. This is a crucial step in the investigation and punishment of the culprits of the tragedy, according to Aliyev.
Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8432
On December 25, Azerbaijan Airlines’ Embraer 190 flew Flight 8432 from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, the capital of the Russian Republic of Chechnya. However, as the aircraft approached Grozny, it was struck by what appears to be a Russian anti-aircraft missile, which the Federation admitted was firing at Ukrainian combat drones.
After crossing the Caspian Sea, the aircraft was forced to turn to Aktau, Kazakhstan, where it crashed near the airport. The crash killed 38 of the 67 people on board, including the two pilots and one flight attendant. Passengers reported hearing an explosion and shrapnel hitting the plane.
Videos immediately surfaced showing many holes in the aircraft’s tail section and things piercing the cabin throughout the flight. Initial accounts stated that the aircraft had been struck by a bird, but the wreckage quickly revealed otherwise.
Azerbaijani investigators first suspected that a missile from a Russian Pantsir-S1 air defense system had struck the plane.