'External interference' behind Kazakhstan plane crash that killed 38: Azerbaijan Airlines

As many as 38 people lost their lives in the plane crash in the Aktau city of Kazakhstan on Christmas.

The preliminary investigation into the crash of the Embraer 190 aircraft operating the Baku-Grozny flight J2-8243 of Azerbaijan Airlines in Kazakhstan on December 25 has found "physical and technical external interference" as the likely reason behind the tragedy, Azerbaijan Airlines said on Friday.

As many as 38 people lost their lives in the crash in the Aktau city of Kazakhstan on Christmas day. The flight, that took off from Baku for Grozny in Russia's Chechnya, was "denied landing due to fog" and diverted far off the Caspian Sea where it crashed. A total of 29 people survived the crash.

Azerbaijan Airlines revealed the information in a statement put out on its X handle this evening, sharing that it has suspended flights operating from Baku to eight airports in Russia starting December 28, 2024. These airports include Mineralnye Vody, Sochi, Volgograd, Ufa, Samara, Saratov, Nizhny Novgorod and Vladikavkaz.

"This decision, made in accordance with the Azerbaijan State Civil Aviation Authority, is based on the preliminary results of the investigation into the crash of the Embraer 190 aircraft operating the Baku-Grozny flight J2-8243 of Azerbaijan Airlines due to physical and technical external interference and considers potential risks to flight safety. The suspension will remain in effect until the completion of the final investigation," a translation of the statement put out by the airline on X read.

The airline had on December 25 suspended flights from Baku to Grozny and Makhachkala soon after the crash. It said a decision has been made to suspend flights of other airlines to the mentioned destinations, including Grozny and Makhachkala, for safety reasons.

The statement comes amid reports that a Russian surface-to-air missile may have caused the tragic crash, forcing the aircraft to limp off the Caspian Sea before crashing in an open field.

Rasim Musabekov, a member of the Azeri parliament, also demanded an apology from Russia for what he said was downing of AZAL plane by Russia’s air defences, stating that relations between the countries could get worse.

The Kremlin, however, maintains that it will refrain from making any statement on the crash till the final investigation into the tragic incident have concluded.

"The investigation of this aviation incident is underway. And until conclusions of this investigation (is released), we do not consider ourselves free to make any assessment and will not do it," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

"At the same time, we have our aviation authorities that can do it (make assessment of the incident). It is only they who can provide any information. As for us, we do not consider ourselves free to comment on it (the plane crash)," he added.