Increasing international scrutiny for Azerbaijan Airlines crash investigation
December 30, 2024
Co-ordinated efforts to unravel the events behind the loss of Azerbaijan Airlines flight 8243 have highlighted the need for impartiality, with Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev among the latest to criticise Russia’s response to the tragedy – and raise concerns its assistance in the investigation would not be objective.
Despite an official Kremlin statement expressing an apology (notably, without suggesting Russian responsibility), tension continues to rise as Russia comes under increased international pressure to admit its role in the tragic event that claimed 38 lives. “Vladimir Putin apologised for the tragic incident that occurred in Russian airspace and once again expressed his deep and sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to the injured,” said the Kremlin.
Although the Kremlin added that “relevant services” (incorporating representatives from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Brazil and Russia) were jointly investigating the crash site, its involvement has been criticised by many – not least Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev, who yesterday told state-owned AzTV that a Russian offer to investigate the crash was “categorically refused”. This, he claimed, was due to the lack of “fair and reasonable steps by Russia in the aftermath of the accident,”
Russia had previously suggested that the E190 hit a flock of birds in mid-flight prior to its emergency landing in Kazakhstan, while Kazakh media reported the Russian aircraft despatcher as attributing an oxygen tank explosion as responsible. A Kremlin spokesperson subsequently cautioned against speculation as to the causes of the crash – instead urging patience until the investigation is completed.
However, Putin’s statement also acknowledged that air defence systems were firing near Grozny airport as the flight “repeatedly” attempted to land there. Aliyev believes that his government can “say with complete clarity that the ‘plane was shot down by Russia,” adding that while this was not undertaken intentionally, “it was done” – a conclusion corroborated by increasing numbers of international experts.
Kazakhstan’s deputy prime minister Kanat Bozumbayev had already indicated that law enforcement agencies of Russia and Azerbaijan would not be permitted to conduct a forensic investigation.
IATA has called for a “thorough, impartial and transparent investigation” into the tragedy, with director general Willie Walsh stating: “Civil aircraft must never be the intended or accidental target of military operations” and acknowledging the “strong potential” that flight 8243 “could have been the victim of military operations as indicated by several governments including Russia and Azerbaijan”.
Invoking Annex 13 of the Chicago Convention, ICAO has also called for an independent investigation, “to be conducted with the sole objective of preventing future accidents and incidents, through the collection and analysis of safety data and information”. A preliminary report is to be produced within 30 days of the crash, with a final report to follow within 12 months.
