Some survivors return to Azerbaijan as authorities seek cause of plane crash

The rumors have begun to circulate why the plane “Emberer 19018x1> crashed as he was flying on time from Azerbaijan's capital, Baku, to Grozn in the Russian region of Chechnya, with 67 people on board, having turned down the road and attempted to make an emergency landing near the western town of Attau in Kazakhstan.

Some experts cited visible holes in the aircraft's tail as a possible sign that it may have been hit by Russian air defence systems engaged in preventing afraid attacks by Ukraine.

An American official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told news agencies that indicators indicate that a Russian antiaircraft system hit the plane without proving it.

Azerbaijanian and Kazakh authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident. Officials said the aircraft's cabin recorder has been found and called for caution about blaming it before the facts are determined.

Officials in Baku claimed the injured arrived on a special flight organised by the Azerbaijann Emergency Affairs Ministry and that they were accompanied by professional doctors.

The condition of the injured, who were among 29 survivors of the plane crash, is not yet known.

Ayhan Solomon, Azerbaijan's top consul in Attu, told reporters that 26 of the dead are citizens of Azerbaijan.

He added that initial reports show that 16 Azerbaijani citizens survived the plane crash.

“From these, 10 to 12 are in good condition, while others remain in critical, but stable”, he added.

Azerbaijani Airlines's monitoring council announced on December 26th that families of those who lost their lives would be compensated for $23,460, while those injured by $11,730.

Taggat Lastaev, Kazakhstan's deputy transport minister, told the REL that experts are expected to arrive at the scene on December 27th to assess the next steps regarding the black box.

Officials said it usually takes about two weeks to fully assess a black box, though different conditions may affect this duration.

Commenting on unconfirmed reports that the plane may have crashed by a rocket, Kazakhstan Senate Chairman Maulen Ashimbaev said it is possible “” to say what could have damaged the plane until the investigation is completed.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov made a similar statement, saying: “we should wait for the investigation to end”. Peskov added it is “misspelled” to speculate before investigators draw their conclusions.

According to officials, in addition to 42 Azerbaijani citizens, on the flight board “J2-8243” were registered 16 Russian citizens, six from Kazakhstan and three citizens from Kyrgyzstan.

Among the survivors are nine Russian nationals, who were sent to Moscow on December 26th by the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations. According to Russian health authorities, three of the Russian survivors are in critical condition, reports the REL.

The Azerbaijani Airlines company has suspended all flights from Baku to Chechnya until investigations into the tragedy are conducted.

The Russian news agency, Interfax, has quoted officials as saying the plane had passed all raids in October and the pilot had “a great experience” with over 15,000 hours of flying.