The Kremlin has urged caution against speculating about the cause of the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines flight, which killed 38 of the 67 people on board.
The Embraer 190, en route from Baku to Grozny, crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau on Wednesday. The plane attempted an emergency landing but tragically crashed and exploded in a fiery ball, splitting in two.
The crash has sparked speculation, with some experts suggesting that a Russian anti-aircraft missile may have downed the aircraft.
Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin, emphasized that it was premature to make any assumptions about the cause of the crash.
“It would be incorrect to make any hypotheses before the investigation comes to conclusions,” he stated in a daily briefing.
Similarly, Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev cautioned against drawing conclusions too early, urging the public to refrain from sensationalizing the incident.
Despite the calls for restraint, aviation expert Matthew Borie of Osprey Flight Solutions speculated that the crash may have been caused by a Russian air defense system.
Borie pointed to the timing of the incident, which occurred while Russian forces were engaged in a military defense against Ukrainian drones in the region. He argued that the damage to the plane was consistent with the impact of a surface-to-air missile.
This theory has gained traction, with some reports suggesting visible damage to the wreckage and noting that the plane’s flight path was near areas of active conflict.
The Wall Street Journal reported that a U.S. official had confirmed signs that a Russian anti-aircraft system may have been involved, which, if proven, would add to concerns over Russia’s recklessness amid its ongoing war with Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Andriy Kovalenko also echoed these claims, stating that the plane was “shot down by a Russian air-defense system.” The flight’s destination, Grozny, is located near Ukraine, raising questions about potential connections to the ongoing conflict.
However, the Azerbaijani government has been cautious in its statements, with President Ilham Aliyev calling for a thorough investigation and declaring Thursday a national day of mourning for the victims.
Kazakh authorities reported that 62 passengers and five crew members were aboard the flight. The Kazakh Health Ministry later confirmed that 29 people survived, including two children.
In response to the crash, Israel’s national carrier, El Al, announced it would suspend its Tel Aviv-Moscow flights for the upcoming week, citing safety concerns in the region.
As investigations continue, officials from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia are working to determine the cause of the crash.
