Azerbaijan Confirms External Weapon Caused AZAL Passenger Plane Crash, Crew Praised for Heroism
Testimonies of surviving wounded witnesses and holes in the Azerbaijan Airlines plane en route to Russia's Chechnya that crashed in Kazakhstan indicate external interference, and the type of weapon will be determined by the investigation, Azerbaijan's Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rashad Nabiyev has said, Report writes.
The minister said: ‘The surviving passengers and flight attendants said they heard an explosion when they were over Grozny. Even the arm of one of the flight attendants was injured. Social media and images circulated by the media also show that the woman was injured in the arm and leg. In addition, traces of holes are visible on the wing of the aircraft. Inside the aircraft, the fuselage may show various damages as a result of various cutting or foreign objects hitting it. The victims, who are Russian citizens, also said they heard three explosions over Grozny. According to them, the explosions came from outside, and then something touched the plane.’
According to him, from the first moment of the crash, the press wrote that birds had hit the plane. But the initial conclusion of the experts is that the remains of the plane on the ground and witnesses' testimonies indicate that there was foreign interference. However, the investigation will determine what kind of weapon the foreign interference was.
In addition, if you look at the flight path of the aircraft, you can see that it flew over Makhachkala towards Aktau. The investigation will determine whether the aircraft was allowed to land there.
In addition, the investigation will establish the purpose of the pilot's emergency landing. The issue of the GPS being switched off will become clear after the evidence is presented.’
The Minister also noted: ‘Both local and international experts conclude that the crew of the plane made the most optimal landing, showing heroism. As a result, more people were saved.
Using its right, Azerbaijan also engaged international consultants in the process. We are already in contact with them.’
Nabiyev added that two Embraer specialists are working at the site and are part of the investigative team. At the same time, Brazilian experts will be on site tomorrow.
Immediately after the crash of the Embraer 190 aircraft belonging to Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL), a commission was set up by order of President Ilham Aliyev. Members of the commission were sent to Aktau to investigate the details of the accident at the crash site and examine the condition of the victims.
As a reminder, on Christmas Day, 25 December, an Embraer aircraft of Azerbaijan Airlines, en route from Baku to Grozny, crashed near Aktau in Kazakhstan. The crash killed 38 people. 29 people, including three children, miraculously survived and were hospitalised.
‘Azerbaijan Airlines suspended flights to a number of Russian cities after the crash.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha expressed condolences to Azerbaijan and said that Russia had tried to hide the traces of the downing of the Azerbaijani passenger plane and called for a fair investigation into the crash.
