Investigators Access Black Box Data from Crashed Azerbaijan Airlines Plane in Kazakhstan
Investigators have received key data from the black boxes of an Azerbaijan Airlines aircraft that crashed in Kazakhstan on Christmas Day, killing 38 people aboard. The Brazilian-made Embraer 190 was reportedly shot down by Russian air defenses, a claim denied by Moscow, which suggested that the plane was near the battle zone when Ukrainian drones were active in the area.
Brazil's air force completed the extraction of data from the flight recorders and conducted an analysis in Brasília before handing the information over to Kazakhstan's investigation team. The cockpit dialogue and flight data from the plane will now aid in understanding the causes of the incident.
Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has demanded accountability from Russia, expressing his anger over what he describes as the concealment of the facts surrounding the crash. He calls for an apology, admission of guilt, and punishment of those responsible for the shooting. Aliyev's comments reflect escalating tensions between Azerbaijan and Russia, with acknowledgment from President Putin about the incident occurring in Russian airspace but no direct admission of wrongdoing regarding the aircraft's destruction.
The investigation involves authorities from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Russia, who have all traveled to Brazil to assist in the inquiry.
