Several international airlines have suspended flights to Russian cities following claims by Western experts and the US that the recent crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane may have been caused by a Russian anti-aircraft missile.
The tragic incident occurred on Wednesday when an Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190, en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau, resulting in the deaths of 38 out of the 67 passengers on board. In the aftermath, Turkmenistan Airlines announced the cancellation of its regular flights between Ashgabat and Moscow, from December 30 to January 31, 2025, without providing further explanation.
UAE-based flydubai also suspended flights between Dubai and the Russian cities of Mineralnye Vody and Sochi from December 27 to January 3. Kazakhstan’s Qazaq Air followed suit, halting its flights to Yekaterinburg, Russia, until the end of January. Israeli airline El Al also paused its Moscow flights for a week.
The crash has sparked widespread speculation, with experts pointing to the possibility of a Russian anti-aircraft missile being responsible for downing the plane. Russia, however, has not commented on these reports but has stated that Ukrainian drones were attacking Grozny, the intended destination of the flight, on the day of the crash.
Azerbaijan’s Transport Minister confirmed that preliminary investigations indicated “external interference” during the flight, suggesting the plane was struck mid-air. In a statement on Friday, White House spokesman John Kirby echoed similar concerns, revealing that Washington had “indications” pointing to Russian involvement, though no specific details were provided.
As the investigation continues, more airlines are expected to review their flight operations to and from Russia in light of the ongoing tensions and the potential security risks raised by the incident.
