Russia’s head of aviation said Friday that the recent Azerbaijani plane crash occurred amid a Ukrainian drone attack.
Newsweek reached out to Ukraine’s foreign ministry via email for comment late Friday morning.
Why It Matters
A total of 38 people died in Wednesday’s plane crash and the 29 people who survived were injured.
What To Know
Dmitry Yadrov, the chief of Rosaviatsia, Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency, said Friday that a Ukrainian drone attack was underway in Grozny, the regional capital of the Russian republic of Chechnya and the destination for the Azerbaijani plane, before the aircraft diverted toward the central Asian country of Kazakhstan and later crashed.
The Azerbaijani Plane Crash
The plane, which departed from Azerbaijan’s capital of Baku, crashed near the city of Aktau while trying to land in Kazakhstan. Azerbaijan Airlines said Friday that the crash was caused by “physical and technical interference.”
The Administration of Mangystau Region via AP
Survivors Recall Loud Noises
Crash survivors told Azerbaijani media that they heard loud noises when the plane was circling over Grozny.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijani Minister of Digital Development and Transportation Rashad Nabiyev told Azerbaijani media that “preliminary conclusions by experts point at external impact,” as does witness accounts, adding, “The type of weapon used in the impact from outside will be determined to investigators.”
What People Are Saying
Rasim Musabekov, an Azerbaijan lawmaker, told Azerbaijani media on Thursday that the plane was fired on while over Grozny, urging Russia to offer an official apology.
Meanwhile, four unnamed sources with knowledge of the preliminary findings of Azerbaijan’s invention into the crash told Reuters on Thursday that Russian air defenses accidentially shot down the plane.
“No one claims that it was done on purpose. However, taking into account the established facts, Baku expects the Russian side to confess to the shooting down of the Azerbaijani aircraft,” one of Reuters’ sources said.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov recently told reporters: “The air incident is being investigated, and we don’t believe we have the right to make any assessments until the conclusions are made as a result of the investigation.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin said while opening the CIS [Commonwealth of Independents States] member states meeting on Wednesday: “A tragedy occurred today in Aktau. A plane crashed, people died, there are many wounded. On your behalf, I would like to express condolences to the families of those killed and all those injured. Let’s hope for their recovery.”
What Happens Next
Azerbaijan Airlines has suspended flights to ten Russian cities, including Grozy. The carrier will continue to operate flights to six Russian cities, including Moscow and St. Petersburg.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.