The Ministry of Transport of Azerbaijan named the preliminary cause of the plane crash in Aktau

Azerbaijani Transport Minister Rashad Nabiyev said on December 27 that the wreckage of the Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) plane that crashed near Aktau indicates that outside interference was the cause of the crash.

"The conclusion of experts is that the remains of the airplane on the ground and the testimony of witnesses indicate that there was external interference," Nabiyev was quoted as saying by Azerbaijan's APA news agency.

Also that day, AZAL Airlines said that the probable cause of the plane crash in Aktau was physical and technical impact on the vessel. The statement was published in its Telegram channel.

Tragedy in Aktau: Baku-Grozny passenger plane crashed

A fire started at the scene and there are survivors

On December 27, Dmitry Yadrov, head of Rosaviatsia, said that the "Cover" plan was introduced in Grozny before the supposed landing of the AZAL airline plane because of Ukrainian drone attacks. He added that there was dense fog in the area of the city airport. Later, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that reports circulating on the Web about the alleged development of a common version of the plane crash in Aktau between Russia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are disinformation.

A passenger plane of AZAL Airlines, which was on the route Baku - Grozny, crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau on December 25. A criminal case has been opened.

According to the AZAL list, 62 passengers and five crew members were on board. A total of 38 people died, among them seven Russians. Nine Russian citizens survived and were hospitalized, later a special Russian Emergencies Ministry airplane took them to Moscow. AZAL suspended flights from Baku to Grozny and Makhachkala until the investigation was completed, and flights from the Azerbaijani capital to a number of other Russian cities were later canceled.