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Russia and Kazakhstan have tried to calm hypothesis about the reason for the Azerbaijan Airways aircraft crash, following claims it had been shot down by Russian air defence programs.
On Thursday, Moscow urged calm as its overseas minister stated it could be improper to come back to conclusions earlier than an investigation into the crash was full.
The flight had been set to journey to Grozny, the capital of Russia‘s Chechnya on Wednesday, however as an alternative diverted and crash-landed just a few kilometres in need of Aktau airport in Kazakhstan.
Unverified video footage of the crash confirmed the plane descending and hitting the bottom the place it burst into flames, killing 38 of the 67 individuals onboard.
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Russia’s aviation watchdog stated a preliminary investigation indicated the pilot determined to alter touchdown website after “a collision with birds”. However Reuters information company famous the aircraft had diverted from an space of Russia that Moscow has lately defended towards Ukrainian drone assaults.
On Wednesday Andriy Kovalenko, the top of Ukraine’s Nationwide Safety and Protection Council’s Middle for Countering Disinformation, took to X to say the aircraft was “shot down by a Russian air defence system,” claiming to have seen footage from contained in the aircraft exhibiting punctured life vests. Sources additionally made the identical declare to Reuters.
He stated: “Nonetheless, admitting that is inconvenient for everybody, so efforts will likely be made to cowl it up, even the holes within the remaining components of the plane.”
An analyst at consultancy AeroDynamic Advisory additionally raised doubts over a chicken strike, including: “You’ll be able to lose management of the aircraft, however you don’t fly wildly off beam as a consequence.”
Some commentators additionally alleged the holes seen within the aircraft’s tail part pictured after the crash presumably point out that it may have come underneath fireplace.
Each Moscow and Kazakhstan have sought to dampen hypothesis of Moscow’s involvement, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying on Thursday an investigation into the reason for the crash is underway and that it could be improper to make “hypotheses” earlier than any conclusions are drawn.
Kazakhstan’s senate chairman additionally added that the reason for the crash was unknown and stated: “None of those nations – neither Azerbaijan, Russia nor Kazakhstan – is fascinated by hiding data. All data will likely be made obtainable to the general public.”
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Azeri president Ilham Aliyev additionally stated it was too quickly to invest on the explanations behind the crash, and stated unhealthy climate in Grozny had compelled the flight to divert.
Mr Aliyev stated: “The data supplied to me is that the aircraft modified its course between Baku and Grozny because of worsening climate situations and headed to Aktau airport, the place it crashed upon touchdown.”
Business aviation-tracking web sites monitored the flight because it flew north on its scheduled route alongside the west coast earlier than it disappeared. It then reappeared on the east coast, the place it circled close to Aktau airport earlier than crashing into the seashore.
Kazakh officers stated these aboard the aircraft included 42 Azerbaijani residents, 16 Russian nationals, six Kazakhs and three Kyrgyzstan nationals. 5 of the 67 have been crew.
