The Russian government has warned against drawing premature conclusions about the crash of a Russia-bound passenger plane in Kazakhstan, which claimed 38 lives on Wednesday.
Aviation and Ukrainian officials have reportedly suggested Russia’s involvement in the incident. Footage of the wrecked fuselage indicates possible shrapnel damage, leading some aviation experts to speculate that the Azerbaijani Airlines plane may have been struck by air defense systems over Chechnya, a Russian republic.
The flight, originally destined for Chechnya, was diverted across the Caspian Sea to western Kazakhstan before crashing near the city of Aktau. Of the 67 passengers onboard, 29 survived.
In Azerbaijan, a national day of mourning was observed on Thursday to honor the victims. As investigations continue, calls for restraint in promoting unverified claims remain critical to ensuring an accurate understanding of the tragedy.
