Several airlines have announced the suspension of flights to Russian cities following Western experts’ and U.S. officials’ suggestions that the Azerbaijan Airlines crash earlier this week may have been caused by a Russian anti-aircraft missile.
The Embraer 190, operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, crashed on Wednesday near the Kazakh city of Aktau, killing 38 of the 67 people on board. The flight was en route from Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku, to Grozny, the capital of Chechnya.
Russia has not commented on allegations that the plane may have been accidentally shot down but has noted that Grozny was under attack by Ukrainian drones at the time.
Airlines Cancel Flights
Turkmenistan Airlines became the latest carrier to suspend flights on Saturday, canceling regular routes between Ashgabat and Moscow from December 30, 2024, to January 31, 2025, without providing an explanation.
UAE-based flydubai earlier canceled flights between Dubai and southern Russian cities Mineralnye Vody and Sochi scheduled between December 27 and January 3. Kazakhstan’s Qazaq Air has suspended flights to Yekaterinburg in Russia’s Ural region until the end of January.
Israeli airline El Al had already suspended flights to Moscow earlier in the week, citing security concerns.
Investigation Points to External Interference
Azerbaijan’s Transport Minister announced Friday that preliminary findings from the crash investigation indicated “external interference,” suggesting the aircraft may have been struck mid-air. These statements align with growing speculation from Western aviation experts about the involvement of a Russian anti-aircraft missile.
While the Kremlin has remained silent on the missile claims, U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said on Friday that Washington has “indications” Russia may have been responsible, though he provided no further details.
Widening Implications
The incident has cast a shadow over Russian airspace safety amid the ongoing conflict with Ukraine. Air defenses have been on high alert in southern Russia due to frequent Ukrainian drone attacks, creating risks for civilian aircraft.
The crash and its aftermath have also raised concerns among international carriers about operating in Russian airspace, leading to the wave of flight cancellations.
Aviation Safety Under Scrutiny
This tragic incident has prompted calls for heightened aviation safety measures, particularly in conflict-adjacent regions. The investigation is ongoing, and further findings will be closely monitored as airlines and passengers assess the risks of flying over or near Russian airspace.
For now, affected airlines have not provided timelines for resuming their suspended routes, leaving travelers in uncertainty.
