The Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash in Kazakhstan may have resulted from external damage prior to its fatal descent. A preliminary report indicates that the aircraft suffered multiple holes and the crew lost its GPS signal before losing control. The investigation is ongoing, with various theories, including possible unintentional involvement of Russian air defenses. The incident resulted in 38 fatalities and has prompted a criminal probe.
A preliminary report by Kazakhstan’s transport ministry indicates that the Azerbaijan Airlines jet that crashed en route to Russia in December was likely damaged by “external objects” prior to the incident. This report, spanning 53 pages, provides photographic evidence showing significant damage, including various holes, yet does not ascertain the exact cause of the aircraft’s deviation from its intended flight path. The tragic accident claimed the lives of 38 individuals among the 67 on board.
The investigation revealed that the crew had informed air traffic control in Grozny, Russia, about a lost GPS signal, indicating a possible system malfunction before they lost control of the aircraft. Notably, damage in the tail section, as well as on the left engine and left wing, was documented in the investigation.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has consistently suggested that the crash was caused by a Russian air defense missile unintentionally striking Flight 8243. Initial Russian explanations implicated a potential bird strike or the explosion of a gas cylinder. However, President Vladimir Putin later expressed regret for what was labeled a “tragic accident”, attributed to Russia’s defense system responding to a drone threat from Ukraine on the crash day, while Moscow avoided taking direct responsibility.
U.S. intelligence suggested that a Russian anti-aircraft system might have inadvertently engaged the aircraft, given the context of ongoing hostilities between Ukrainian and Russian forces. The Kremlin has since announced a criminal investigation, although Kazakhstan, as the site of the crash and a close ally of Russia, has refrained from placing direct blame on Moscow in its ongoing inquiry.
The tragic crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane has raised numerous questions regarding its cause, particularly amidst the allegations of Russian air defense involvement. While the recovery of the GPS signal issue and visible exterior damage are noted in the report, further investigation will be essential to clearly ascertain the circumstances surrounding the accident and to navigate the geopolitical sensitivities involved.
Original Source: www.cbsnews.com
