RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazilian air force investigators are collaborating with counterparts from three other nations to analyze data from the Azerbaijani airliner that crashed in Kazakhstan on Dec. 25, resulting in the tragic loss of 38 lives. The aircraft, an Embraer 190 made in Brazil, was en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny in the North Caucasus when it was diverted and subsequently crashed near Aktau after crossing the Caspian Sea.
The investigation is being conducted at Brazil's center for investigation and prevention of air accidents in Brasilia, where nine foreign investigators, including representatives from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Russia, are working alongside Brazilian experts. The focus is on analyzing data extracted from the airplane's black box and other relevant tools, such as cockpit voice and flight data recorders.
While there is no set deadline for the release of findings, the Brazilian air force has assured that efforts to extract, obtain, and validate the flight recorders' data will be expedited. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has alleged that the aircraft was hit by ground fire over Russia and subsequently disabled by electronic warfare, pointing fingers at Russia for attempting to conceal the incident.
Responding to these accusations, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed regret over the 'tragic incident' but refrained from accepting responsibility. Putin's apology to President Aliyev came amidst growing speculation that the plane may have been mistakenly targeted by Russian air defense systems while responding to a potential Ukrainian drone threat near Grozny.
