Moscow: The second black box of Azerbaijani passenger plane that crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, was found on Thursday, as authorities intensify their investigation into the cause of the tragedy. The crash, which took place on Wednesday, claimed the lives of 38 people and left 29 survivors with injuries.
Kazakh authorities said that they are conducting a thorough examination of the crash site, which spans over 4,000 square meters. Interviews with victims, witnesses, and ground service workers have also been completed, while radio communication recordings between the crew and dispatchers have been retrieved for analysis.
Aviation experts say Russian air defence may be involved
Aviation experts have raised the possibility that the plane may have been hit by Russian air defence systems, particularly after images of the wreckage revealed damage to the plane’s tail, as reported by Reuters. Experts from OPSGroup and Osprey Flight Solutions pointed out that the holes and damage appeared consistent with a surface-to-air missile (SAM) strike.
Mark Zee from OPSGroup suggested that the probability of a SAM attack on the aircraft is high, estimating it at 90-99%. These findings have led to speculation that the plane may have been struck by a Russian military air defence system, possibly targeting a Ukrainian drone that had been active in the region.
The plane, an Embraer 190, was en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, when it was diverted to Aktau after a bird strike forced an emergency. Experts believe that the plane may have been struck while flying near Grozny, as Russian air defences were reportedly active in the area due to recent drone attacks on the region, as reported by Reuters.
Russia denies claims of air defence fire
Kremlin rejected the claims that Russian air defences were responsible for the crash. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, cautioned against speculating on the cause of the crash before the investigation’s conclusions. He said that making hypotheses at this stage would be premature and unhelpful.
Despite this, some Azerbaijani officials and experts continue to point to Russia’s involvement. Rasim Musabekov, an Azerbaijani lawmaker, publicly blamed Moscow, suggesting that the plane was fired upon by Russian air defences while in the skies over Grozny. He called for Russia to issue an apology and take responsibility for the incident. Musabekov also urged the Russian government to compensate the victims’ families and ensure accountability for those responsible.
Kazakhstan’s parliamentary speaker, Maulen Ashimbayev, also criticized the claims of air defence involvement, calling them unfounded and unethical. He urged caution and patience until the official investigation is completed.
Plane’s final moments
The plane was diverted due to bad weather and preliminary information from Russia’s civil aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, suggests that the bird strike prompted the emergency diversion to Aktau. However, some experts have questioned why the plane wasn’t allowed to land in Grozny or other nearby Russian airports after it was hit. According to reports, the region had experienced multiple drone attacks recently, and Russia’s air defences had been activated to intercept these threats.
Cellphone footage circulating online showed the plane making a steep descent before crashing into the ground and exploding in a fireball. Further images revealed parts of the fuselage ripped away from the wings, with the aircraft lying upside down on the grass.
