Azerbaijan Airways has blamed a lethal airplane crash in Kazakhstan on “bodily and technical exterior interference,” as hypothesis mounts about potential Russian involvement within the catastrophe.

The airline introduced the preliminary outcomes of an investigation into the crash on Friday, with out offering any additional particulars about the place the interference got here from.

The airplane was flying from Azerbaijan’s capital of Baku to Grozny, Chechnya, on Christmas Day when it turned towards Kazakhstan and crashed whereas attempting to land there. At the least 38 of the 67 individuals on board have been killed.

White Home nationwide safety spokesman John Kirby stated the US “have seen some early indications that will surely level to the likelihood that this jet was introduced down by Russian air protection methods,” however refused to elaborate.

Russia’s aviation chief Dmitry Yadrov stated on Friday that the jet was diverted from its unique vacation spot in Grozny as a result of a Ukrainian drone assault was underway within the space.

“Ukrainian fight drones have been finishing up terrorist assaults on civilian infrastructure within the cities of Grozny and Vladikavkaz,” Yadrov stated.

Azerbaijan Airways has suspended flights to a number of Russian airports.

In the meantime, an Azerbaijani lawmaker and a few aviation specialists have pointed the finger at Russian air defenses responding to a Ukrainian assault.

Member of Azerbaijan’s parliament, Rasim Musabekov, on Thursday stated that the airplane was fired on whereas within the skies over Grozny and urged Russia to supply an apology.

Some aviation specialists have additionally famous that holes seen within the airplane’s tail part instructed that it might have come below hearth from Russian air protection methods warding off a Ukrainian assault.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to touch upon the allegations, saying that an investigation will decide the reason for the crash.

“The air incident is being investigated, and we don’t imagine we have now the proper to make any assessments till the conclusions are made on account of the investigation,” Peskov stated.

Passengers and crew who survived the crash instructed Azerbaijani media that they heard loud noises on the airplane because it was flying over Grozny.

Flight attendant Aydan Rahimli stated that after one loud noise, the oxygen masks routinely launched. She stated that she went to carry out first assist on a colleague earlier than they heard one other bang.

Crew member Zulfugar Asadov stated that the noises seemed like one thing hitting the airplane from outdoors. He denied Kazakh officers’ declare that an oxygen canister exploded contained in the airplane.

Azerbaijani investigators are working in Grozny as a part of the crash probe.