AZAL Plane Crash: Azerbaijan Airlines Press Service Reports "External Interference," Azerbaijani Minister Does As Well

AZAL Airlines released a statement on the "preliminary results" of the crash investigation.

However, this raises questions, as Kazakhstan's authorities are leading the investigation with the assistance of invited experts. According to the airline, the aircraft was subjected to "external physical and technical interference."

Initially, there was a "bird strike" theory, but later, Euronews reported that a Russian air defense missile could have caused the crash.

The airline’s statement came shortly after an announcement from the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency.

The agency’s head, Yadrov, confirmed Ukrainian drone attacks. 

Later, Azerbaijani Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rashad Nabiyev told reporters that experts had concluded that the Azerbaijan Airlines plane was exposed to external influences in the sky over Grozny.

Injured passengers and surviving flight attendants said they heard an explosion when they were over Grozny. Even one of the flight attendants was wounded in the arm. It is also clear from social media and video footage distributed by the media that the woman was injured in her arms and legs. In addition, holes were visible on the wing of the aircraft. There is damage from various sharp objects inside the aircraft and on the fuselage. The victims, who are Russian citizens, also said they had heard three explosions over Grozny. According to them, the explosions occurred outside, and then something made contact with the plane, Nabiyev said.

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