A Russian anti-aircraft system may have downed the passenger jet that crashed in Kazakhstan, killing at least 38 of the 67 people on board. The US has offered an assessment of the crash, suggesting that it may have been a case of mistaken identity, where poorly trained Russian units fired negligently against Ukraine’s use of drones.
The plane, operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, was traveling from Baku to Grozny when it made an emergency landing near Aktau. Authorities recovered a second black box at the crash site, which they hope will provide information to help investigators determine what happened.
US officials point to Russian air defenses in the area as a possible cause of the crash. However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that it would be wrong to speculate about the cause before an investigation has been carried out.
A commission has been set up to investigate the crash, involving representatives from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Russia. Experts are due to arrive in Kazakhstan on Friday to help piece together the events leading up to the crash.
The plane’s route was rerouted due to heavy fog in Grozny, but officials did not immediately explain why it crossed the Caspian Sea. GPS jamming and spoofing were also detected near Grozny, which could have hindered the plane’s ability to navigate and communicate.
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities urging people not to speculate about the cause of the crash until all information has been gathered.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/26/asia/kazakhstan-plane-crash-questions-intl/index.html