An Azerbaijani airliner crashed in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, killing 38 people. Azerbaijan's president accuses Russia of targeting the device, an allegation that risks souring relations between the two countries. Vladimir Putin apologized, but the investigation promises to be tense…
An air tragedy that occurred in Kazakhstan on Wednesday took an unexpected diplomatic turn. Indeed, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliev, claims that the Azerbaijan Airlines airliner, which crashed near the city of Aktau killing 38 people, was targeted by “fire” coming from Russian territory.
Russian shooting in question according to Azerbaijan
In a television interview, the Azerbaijani president said: “The facts are that the Azerbaijani civil plane was damaged from the outside over Russian territory (…) the tail of the plane was seriously damaged by shots coming from the ground.” He also accused Moscow of wanting to hide the real causes of the accident.
Ilham Aliev claimed that the aircraft had been rendered “uncontrollable” by military means of electronic jamming. Serious allegations which risk further inflaming the already tense relations between Azerbaijan and Russia.
Russian anti-aircraft defense in action?
The day before, Russian President Vladimir Putin had apologized for this tragic accident, without explicitly confirming whether the plane had been hit by a Russian missile. However, he recognized that the Russian anti-aircraft defense was in action when the aircraft attempted to land in Grozny, in Russian territory.
Air defense systems were in fact on high alert on Wednesday in this region, due to increased tensions with Azerbaijan in recent months.According to a source close to the matter
A high-voltage investigation
The accident, which cost the lives of 38 people including the crew, raises many questions. The black boxes of the device have been recovered and are being analyzed. But the investigation already promises to be under high tension, given the accusations made by the Azerbaijani president.
If Russia's responsibility were to be proven, it would constitute a major diplomatic incident and a serious attack on the rules of international civil aviation. The international community, and first and foremost the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), will have to shed light on this tragedy.
Russian-Azerbaijani relations deteriorated
This tragic accident occurs in a context of particularly tense relations between Baku and Moscow:
- Azerbaijan, a former Soviet territory, has in recent years moved closer to Turkey and Western countries, to the great displeasure of Russia.
- Skirmishes have recently taken place on the border between Azerbaijan and Armenia, a close ally of Moscow.
- Baku also accused Russia of massively arming Armenia.
This air crash and the serious accusations made by Azerbaijan therefore risk bringing tensions between the two countries to their peak. A diplomatic crisis seems inevitable if Russian involvement is proven.
Air safety in question
Beyond the geopolitical dimension, this disaster highlights the crucial issues of aviation security, particularly in areas of tension. The tragedy of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, shot down in 2014 over Ukraine, had already shown the terrible risks of such situations.
Airlines and regulators will certainly need to review their flight and risk assessment procedures in volatile regions. Because if Baku's theses are confirmed, it is the lives of innocent passengers and crew members who will have been cut down, collateral victims of power games beyond their control…
The day before, Russian President Vladimir Putin had apologized for this tragic accident, without explicitly confirming whether the plane had been hit by a Russian missile. However, he recognized that the Russian anti-aircraft defense was in action when the aircraft attempted to land in Grozny, in Russian territory.
Air defense systems were in fact on high alert on Wednesday in this region, due to increased tensions with Azerbaijan in recent months.According to a source close to the matter
A high-voltage investigation
The accident, which cost the lives of 38 people including the crew, raises many questions. The black boxes of the device have been recovered and are being analyzed. But the investigation already promises to be under high tension, given the accusations made by the Azerbaijani president.
If Russia's responsibility were to be proven, it would constitute a major diplomatic incident and a serious attack on the rules of international civil aviation. The international community, and first and foremost the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), will have to shed light on this tragedy.
Russian-Azerbaijani relations deteriorated
This tragic accident occurs in a context of particularly tense relations between Baku and Moscow:
- Azerbaijan, a former Soviet territory, has in recent years moved closer to Turkey and Western countries, to the great displeasure of Russia.
- Skirmishes have recently taken place on the border between Azerbaijan and Armenia, a close ally of Moscow.
- Baku also accused Russia of massively arming Armenia.
This air crash and the serious accusations made by Azerbaijan therefore risk bringing tensions between the two countries to their peak. A diplomatic crisis seems inevitable if Russian involvement is proven.
Air safety in question
Beyond the geopolitical dimension, this disaster highlights the crucial issues of aviation security, particularly in areas of tension. The tragedy of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, shot down in 2014 over Ukraine, had already shown the terrible risks of such situations.
Airlines and regulators will certainly need to review their flight and risk assessment procedures in volatile regions. Because if Baku's theses are confirmed, it is the lives of innocent passengers and crew members who will have been cut down, collateral victims of power games beyond their control…
