An Azerbaijan Airways aircraft that crashed, killing 38 folks, was broken whereas flying over Russia “due to shooting from the ground”, the nation’s president has mentioned.
President Ilham Aliyev mentioned he believed the aircraft, which crashed round two miles from Aktau in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, was not shot down deliberately.
Nonetheless, he accused some circles in Russia of desirous to cowl up the reality concerning the nature of the crash.
The Embraer 190 passenger jet was en route from Azerbaijan’s capital of Baku to the Russian metropolis of Grozny within the North Caucasus when it modified course, flying east throughout the Caspian Sea.
It crashed in Kazakhstan whereas making an attempt to land, killing 38 folks and injuring all the 29 survivors.
In an interview with Azerbaijani tv, Mr Aliyev mentioned the aircraft was broken “from the outside” whereas over Russian territory and that “electronic warfare systems” put the aircraft “out of control”.
He mentioned: “At the same time, as a result of fire from the ground, the tail of the plane was also severely damaged.
“The truth that the fuselage is riddled with holes signifies that the speculation of the aircraft hitting a flock of birds, which was introduced up by somebody, is totally faraway from the agenda.”
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Video reveals holes in crashed aircraft’s tail
He added: “Sadly, nevertheless, some circles in Russia most popular to place ahead this principle. One other regrettable and stunning second for us was that official Russian companies put ahead theories concerning the explosion of some gasoline cylinder on board the aircraft.
“In other words, this clearly showed that the Russian side wanted to cover up the issue, which, of course, is unbecoming of anyone.”
He mentioned the aircraft was hit “by accident” and dominated out a “deliberate act of terror”.
Nonetheless, he criticised Russian authorities for not taking accountability.
Picture:
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met on the BRICS summit final month. Pic: Reuters
“Admitting the guilt, apologising in a timely manner to Azerbaijan, which is considered a friendly country, and informing the public about this – all these were measures and steps that should have been taken,” he mentioned.
“Unfortunately, for the first three days, we heard nothing from Russia except for some absurd theories.”
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Video reveals inside aircraft earlier than crash
On Saturday, Russia’s president Vladimir Putin apologised to his Azerbaijani counterpart for what he referred to as a “tragic incident” – however stopped wanting taking accountability.
The Kremlin mentioned in a press release on Saturday that air defence methods have been firing close to Grozny due to a Ukrainian drone strike, however didn’t affirm certainly one of these downed the aircraft.
Picture:
Specialists working on the crash website of the Azerbaijan Airways aircraft close to Aktau, Kazakhstan. Pic: Reuters
In response to a Kremlin readout of a name, the Russian president apologised to Mr Aliyev “for the fact that the tragic incident occurred in Russian airspace”.
The White Home mentioned early indications counsel the aircraft might have been introduced down by Russia.
Within the days following the crash, Azerbaijan Airways blamed “physical and technical interference” and introduced the suspension of flights to a number of Russian airports.
Whether it is proved that the aircraft crashed after being hit by Russian air defences, it might be the second lethal aviation incident linked to the Kremlin’s battle with Ukraine.
Malaysia Airways Flight 17 was shot down by a Russian missile in accordance with investigators, killing all 298 folks aboard, in 2014.
