The black box could clarify the cause of the disaster in Kazakhstan, while speculation emerges about a Russian anti-aircraft missile as a possible culprit
The second black box of the Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane that crashed in Kazakhstan on Christmas Day has been recovered. This device could provide crucial information to understand the cause of the disaster, in which 38 people lost their lives.
According to a US official quoted by CNN, initial analyses suggest that the plane may have been shot down by a Russian anti-aircraft system. The aircraft crashed after diverting its course from an area where Russia has deployed air defence against Ukrainian drones in recent months. Azerbaijani government sources, reported by Euronews, said that a missile from the Russian defence system was fired during operations against drones in Grozny, which was supposed to be the aircraft’s final destination. The missile, exploding near the plane, reportedly caused damage to the nacelle with its shrapnel. The plane was then diverted to Aktau, on the Caspian Sea, after not receiving permission to land at Russian airports in the area.
The Russian authorities, however, maintain a cautious stance. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that an investigation is underway and urged to wait for official findings before speculating. Peskov stressed that any speculation on the causes would be premature and inappropriate until the investigation is completed.
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