Azerbaijan Mourns After Plane Crash in Kazakhstan
National Day of Mourning Declared
Azerbaijan held a national day of mourning on Thursday after a passenger jet from the flag carrier crashed in western Kazakhstan on Christmas Day, killing 38 of the 67 people onboard.
Plane Diverted from Normal Route
The Embraer 190 aircraft was supposed to fly northwest from the Azerbaijani capital Baku to the city of Grozny in Chechnya in southern Russia, but instead diverted far off course across the Caspian Sea. It crashed on Wednesday near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan.
Investigation Underway, Speculation Abounds
An investigation into the causes of the crash is underway, but some aviation and military experts have speculated that the plane may have been accidentally shot by Russian air defense systems as it was flying in an area where Ukrainian drone activity had been reported. Officials have condemned "speculation" about what happened, urging that the investigation be allowed to conclude before drawing any conclusions.
Russian and Kazakh Officials React
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, "We need to await the end of the investigation." Kazakh Senate speaker Maulen Ashimbayev was quoted as saying it was "not possible" to say what may have damaged the plane. "Real experts are looking at all this and they will make their conclusions. Neither Kazakhstan, nor Russia, nor Azerbaijan, of course, are interested in hiding information, it will be brought to the public," he said.
Russian Military Expert’s Theory
Russian military expert Yury Podolyaka said holes seen in the wreckage of the plane were similar to the damage caused by "anti-aircraft missile system." "Everything points to that," he wrote.
Azerbaijan Airlines’ Initial Statement
Azerbaijan Airlines initially said the plane flew through a flock of birds before withdrawing the statement. The airline reported that 67 people were on board the jet, including 62 passengers and five crew members.
Casualties and Injuries
Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev said that 38 people had been killed, while the Kazakh emergency situations ministry reported "29 survivors, including three children, have been hospitalised." Eleven of the injured are in intensive care, the Kazakh health ministry said.
Response from Azerbaijan and Russia
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev declared a day of mourning and cancelled a planned visit to Russia for an informal summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States. Aliyev’s office said the president "ordered the prompt initiation of urgent measures to investigate the causes of the disaster." "I extend my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the crash… and wish a speedy recovery to the injured," Aliyev said in a social media post.
Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation with Aliyev and expressed his condolences in connection with the crash. A Russian emergency situations ministry had been sent to Aktau with medical personnel and other equipment, Putin said later as he opened the CIS leaders’ meeting in Saint Petersburg.
Bloodied Survivors
A Kazakh woman, Elmira, who was near the crash site, described the scene: "They were covered in blood. They were crying. They were calling for help. I’ll never forget their look, full of pain and despair. A girl pleaded: ‘Save my mother, my mother is back there’."
Conclusion
The investigation into the causes of the crash is ongoing, and it is too early to draw conclusions about what happened. However, the tragedy has left a devastating toll on the families of the victims and the people of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. Our thoughts are with them during this difficult time.
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