Rosaviatsia reported the threat of UAV attacks at Grozny airport before the landing of AZAL plane

The situation near Grozny before the intended landing of an Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) airplane was complicated and the "Cover" plan was introduced due to terrorist attacks by Ukrainian drones. This was reported by the head of Rosaviatsia Dmitry Yadrov on December 27.

He specified that the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) during these hours tried to attack civilian infrastructure in Grozny, as well as in Vladikavkaz.

"In this regard, in the area of Grozny airport, the "Cover" mode was introduced, providing for the immediate withdrawal of all aircraft from the specified space," Yadrov said. His words were quoted by Rosaviatsia official spokesman Artem Korenyako in his Telegram channel.

Yadrov added that there was dense fog in the area of the city airport - there was no visibility at an altitude of 500 meters. The aircraft commander made two unsuccessful attempts to land the plane, he was offered other airports to make the landing and decided to follow to Aktau.

"Many different circumstances that need to be jointly investigated. We are fully prepared for this work in cooperation with our colleagues," -- concluded the head of Rosaviatsia.

Tragedy in Aktau: Baku-Grozny passenger plane crashed

A fire started at the scene and there are survivors

The passenger plane of AZAL Airlines, which was on the Baku-Grozny route, crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau on December 25. After that, the vessel caught fire. Preliminary, the cause of the fall of the airplane could be a collision with a flock of birds. After the crash, a criminal case was initiated.

According to the list of AZAL, 62 passengers and five crew members were on board, 38 people were killed. In addition, seven Russians died in the airplane crash , and nine survived, they were taken to hospitals. Later, a special Russian Emergencies Ministry airplane took them to Moscow. AZAL suspended flights from Baku to Grozny and Makhachkala until the investigation is completed. Later, the company suspended flights to Sochi, Volgograd, Ufa, Samara and Mineralnye Vody from December 28.