Azerbaijan Airlines Halts Flights to Southern Russia Amid Investigation into Crash
Azerbaijan Airlines has announced the suspension of flights to seven cities in southern Russia due to the recent tragic incident involving flight J2 8243, which crashed in Kazakhstan, resulting in the deaths of 38 individuals. The flight reportedly altered its course dramatically before descending, prompting fears that it may have been struck by a Russian air defense system while flying over Chechnya, close to its intended destination near Grozny.
Starting December 28, Azerbaijan Airlines will temporarily cease operations to the following Russian cities: Mineralnye Vody, Sochi, Volgograd, Ufa, Samara, Grozny, and Makhachkala, until investigations into the crash are concluded.
In a related move, Kazakh airline Qazaq Air has also suspended its flights between the capital Astana and the Russian city of Ekaterinburg, citing broader security concerns. Qazaq Air plans to resume this route on January 27, 2025, contingent upon a new risk assessment, while its flights to Omsk and Novosibirsk will continue uninterrupted.
This development highlights increasing tensions and safety issues in air travel within the region, with both Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan intensifying their inquiries into the cause of the deadly crash. The implications of these suspensions reflect heightened caution in the aviation sector and a response to a turbulent geopolitical climate.
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