Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 04:10am on 28 Dec 2024,Saturday International
The US has hinted at Russia's involvement in the Azerbaijan Airlines crash that killed 38 on 25 December. White House spokesperson John Kirby cited "early indications" linking Russian air defence systems to the incident. The Embraer 190 plane, damaged over Grozny, Chechnya, was redirected across the Caspian Sea before crashing in Kazakhstan. Survivors reported hearing explosions mid-air, while Azerbaijan's transport minister confirmed "external interference." Russia and Kazakhstan proposed a CIS-led probe, but Azerbaijan demands an international inquiry. The Kremlin has denied responsibility, calling the situation in Chechnya "complex." The crash injured several but credited pilots saved 29 lives.
