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Azerbaijan Airlines Plane Crash: Investigations and Speculations
A tragic incident occurred on Christmas Day when an Azerbaijan Airlines aircraft was involved in a crash that resulted in at least 38 fatalities and 29 injuries. This event has sparked significant discussion regarding the possibility that the plane may have been shot down.
The Embraer 190 aircraft was presumed to be en route from Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, to Grozny, the capital of Chechnya, when it deviated from its flight path by hundreds of miles. It ultimately crash-landed near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan, a key location for the oil and gas industry along the Caspian Sea.
Reports suggest that the plane’s change in direction may have resulted from GPS jamming, which has raised eyebrows among Russian military observers. Some military bloggers in Russia have theorized that the aircraft might have been mistaken for a Ukrainian drone, prompting further speculation about the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Video footage circulating online shows the plane descending sharply before hitting the ground and exploding upon impact. Other clips reveal severe damage to the fuselage, with significant sections of the aircraft torn off.
Aviation analysts and Russian military bloggers have scrutinized the nature of the damage, noting that the holes in the fuselage could indicate the impact of shrapnel from an anti-aircraft missile. Initial reports from the flight crew included a mention of a mid-air collision, which Russian aviation officials initially attributed to bird strikes. However, as details emerged, it became evident that an explosion of one of the plane’s oxygen tanks had occurred, suggesting a possible encounter with Russian air defenses.
At the time of the crash, the region was experiencing heightened military activity, with reports of drones from Ukraine attacking Grozny. The plane was attempting to land at a Russian airport in Grozny, where aerial defense systems were reportedly engaged, defending against Ukrainian UAVs.
The Telegram channels known for their connection to Russian security services echoed the suspicions about the nature of the holes in the aircraft, suggesting they were consistent with damage from explosive munitions.
In the aftermath of the incident, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev was reported to have been returning from a summit in Russia when he received news of the tragedy. In a statement, Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for President Vladimir Putin, conveyed condolences on behalf of the Kremlin, emphasizing their sympathy for the victims and their families.
This incident raises significant questions not only about the safety of air travel in regions affected by military conflict but also about the communications and navigation systems that are vital for aircraft operations. As investigations continue and more details emerge, the focus remains on understanding the exact circumstances leading to this disastrous event.
Source
www.yahoo.com