The death toll in Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash has risen to 38. The plane, which had 62 passengers and five crew members on board, crashed near Kazakhstan’s Aktau city on Wednesday. As per reports, the plane was forced to make an emergency landing about three kilometres from Aktau. The Embraer 190 aircraft was en route from Azerbaijan’s capital Baku to Grozny, a Russian city in the North Caucasus.
“The situation is not very good, 38 dead,” Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev said as quoted by Russia’s Interfax news agency, Al Jazeera reported.
Different Theories Emerge After Initial Probe
Investigation is underway to find the real cause of the tragic crash that unfolded yesterday. However, different theories have come to light about what might have led to the crash. Both, Russian and Azerbaijan authorities have offered different reasons, citing preliminary investigations.
The ‘Wall Street Journal’ reported that the crash was likely caused by Russian anti-aircraft system. It is believed that the aircraft was brought down by a Russian military Air defense system.
A report from The Wall Street Journal refers to a warning issued to airlines by Osprey Flight Solutions, a UK-based aviation security firm. The alert suggests that the flight was likely shot down by a Russian military air-defense system. Matt Borie, the firm’s chief intelligence officer, was quoted saying that videos of the wreckage and the security situation in southwest Russia point to the possibility that the aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire.
Russia’s Story
However, contrary to it, Russia’s aviation watchdog said in a statement that preliminary information suggested the pilots decided to make an emergency landing after a bird strike.
Preliminary reports show that the plane requested to land at an alternative airport before the accident due to heavy fog in Grozny.
Notably, the videos circulating online show holes in Azerbaijan Airlines E190 aircraft that might have been shot down over Russia and crash landed in Kazakhstan on 25 December. This has added to the speculation of possible missile strike.
