Azerbaijan Airlines Suspends Flights to Russia Amid Crash Probe
Azerbaijan Airlines Suspends Flights to Russia Amid Crash Probe
Azerbaijan Airlines has suspended flights to seven Russian cities following preliminary findings of a probe into a jet crash that suggested physical and technical external interference. The Embraer jet came down near Aktau airport in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, killing 38 people, while 29 survived. Survivors reported hearing at least one loud bang as the plane approached its original destination of Grozny in southern Russia. Officials in Kazakhstan have suggested that the crash was likely due to Russian fire, while Ukrainian officials have blamed Russia for shooting down the plane. A US official has also indicated that early indications suggest that a Russian anti-aircraft system may have struck the plane.