Brussels/Astana/Moscow, Dec 26 (EFE).– The crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) Embraer 190 in Kazakhstan, leaving 38 dead, prompted NATO’s call for a thorough investigation on Thursday.
While initial theories cite technical failures or a bird strike, speculation about shrapnel damage raises questions about a potential missile strike, drawing warnings from the Kremlin against premature conclusions.
NATO urged a thorough investigation into the crash of the flight J28243, which plunged to the ground near the Kazakh city of Aktau on Wednesday. The tragedy claimed 38 lives and left 29 survivors, some critically injured.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and victims of AzerbaijanAirlines flight J28243. We wish those injured in the crash a speedy recovery and call for a full investigation,” NATO spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah said in a statement on X.
The Embraer 190 aircraft, en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, failed to secure landing permissions at Grozny and a secondary Russian airport in Makhachkala before attempting an emergency diversion to Aktau. The crash has since ignited a wave of speculation.
Initial investigations have proposed a collision with a flock of birds or the explosion of an onboard oxygen tank as potential causes.
However, several Russian bloggers, including Fighterbomber, have pointed to alleged shrapnel damage visible in images of the wreckage, suggesting the plane may have been downed by Russian air defenses.
Addressing the speculation, the Kremlin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, cautioned against premature conclusions. “It would be a mistake to form hypotheses before the investigation is complete. We must wait for the findings,” he told reporters.
Kazakhstan’s Senate President, Maulen Ashibayev, echoed this sentiment, dismissing claims of shrapnel damage as “conjectures and unfounded statements.”
The Kazakh government confirmed that Brazilian aviation experts, including representatives from Embraer, the aircraft’s manufacturer, will join Kazakh and Azerbaijani teams to investigate the crash.
AZAL has suspended all flights to Grozny and Makhachkala until the investigation’s conclusions are determined.
Meanwhile, Kazakhstan’s health ministry reported that two survivors remain in critical condition, with 11 others in serious condition. EFE
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