Kazakhstan Receives Data from Azerbaijan Airlines Crash Investigation
Kazakhstan has received crucial data from the black boxes of an Azerbaijan Airlines aircraft that tragically crashed on December 25. The Brazilian-made Embraer-190 was involved in a catastrophic incident that resulted in the loss of 38 lives among the 67 passengers on board. The flight had been attempting to land in Grozny, Chechnya, but faced significant challenges, leading it to crash-land in Kazakhstan instead.
The data extraction from the voice recorders was conducted in Brasilia by Brazilian air force investigators. Following the completion of this process, the information was handed over to Kazakh authorities, adhering to established international protocols for aviation accident investigations. A statement from Brazil's air force confirmed that the data was transferred to the Kazakhstan Investigation Authority for further analysis.
In the wake of the incident, Azerbaijan has raised serious concerns, alleging that the aircraft was shot down by a missile from Russian air defenses, which were reportedly active in the area to counter Ukrainian drone activities. This allegation has sparked a significant diplomatic tension between Azerbaijan and Russia.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who has historically maintained a close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, has been notably vocal following the crash. He accused Russia of attempting to obscure the true circumstances surrounding the event and labeled the targeting of the passenger plane as a criminal act. President Aliyev has called for a formal apology, acknowledgment of responsibility, and appropriate consequences for those accountable for the incident.
While President Putin has expressed regret over the tragic event and has offered apologies regarding its occurrence within Russian airspace, he has not addressed the specific claims regarding the involvement of Russian military assets in the incident.
The analysis of the black boxes is expected to unveil critical flight data and cockpit communications from the moments leading up to the crash. However, the responsibility for disseminating the findings from this investigation rests with the Kazakh authorities.
The ongoing inquiry is being closely monitored by investigators from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Russia, all of whom have participated in the investigation process in Brasilia. As the investigation unfolds, the international community awaits clarity on the circumstances that led to this devastating aviation disaster.
