Russia has broken its silence regarding black box data from the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash. How will the details of the incident impact Azerbaijan-Russia relations? Details are in our report.
On December 25, 2024, an Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) aircraft en route to Grozny crashed, prompting Russia’s response. During a press conference on January 14, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov acknowledged preliminary results of black box decryption but noted that these results remain unverified.
Crash Details: What Happened?
Flight J2-8243 of Azerbaijan Airlines, traveling from Baku to Grozny, crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan. The incident claimed the lives of 38 people, with 29 survivors.
Initial investigations revealed that the crash occurred due to “physical and external intervention.” Some reports suggested the aircraft was struck by Moscow’s Pantsir-S air defense system and that electronic warfare systems disrupted the plane’s communications.
What Do the Black Box Data Reveal?
Lavrov stated that the examination of black box data is still ongoing and that the information obtained so far is insufficient to clarify all details of the incident. Investigators from Russia, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan, alongside experts from the Brazilian Air Force, are analyzing the flight recorder and cockpit voice recordings.
Azerbaijan Holds Russia Accountable
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has directly accused Russia of responsibility for the crash. In his statement, Aliyev said, “We demand justice, punishment for the culprits, and a transparent resolution of all aspects of this incident.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin offered condolences to Azerbaijan but refrained from accepting any liability for the crash.
Will Relations Between Russia and Azerbaijan Strain?
Lavrov emphasized that Russia and Azerbaijan maintain strong relations and that this incident would not affect their cooperation. He stated, “There are no closed topics in the trust-based relations between Russia and Azerbaijan.”
In a discussion with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, both sides agreed on the importance of identifying the causes of the crash and taking measures to prevent similar incidents.
What’s Next?
Black box data could reveal whether the crash resulted from direct or indirect Russian intervention. The outcome of the investigation may have significant implications for Azerbaijan-Russia relations.
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