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Grozny airport was closed due to Ukrainian UAVs when AZAL plane crashed in Aktau

Dmitry Yadrov stressed that the plane’s commander tried to land in Grozny twice

MOSCOW, December 27. /TASS/. The situation in the Grozny area during the passenger plane crash near the Kazakh city of Aktau was extremely complicated, as counter-measures were being taken in the area of the Chechen capital’s airport due to terrorist attacks by Ukrainian drones, the chief of the Russian air transport agency, Dmitry Yadrov, has said.

"The situation on that day during these hours in the area of Grozny airport was very complicated. Ukrainian combat drones were undertaking terrorist attacks on civilian infrastructure in the cities of Grozny and Vladikavkaz. In this connection, counter-measures were being taken in the area of Grozny airport. All planes were ordered to leave this area," he said.

Yadrov stressed that the plane’s commander tried to land in Grozny twice. He was offered other airports for landing, but eventually decided to go to Aktau.

After the crash, Russia immediately notified Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan of its full and comprehensive readiness to cooperate in the investigation.

"It is necessary to thoroughly and completely investigate all the circumstances of what happened," Yadrov said.

The Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190, en route from Baku to Grozny, crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on December 25. The plane carried 67 people, including 62 passengers, mainly citizens of Azerbaijan, as well as nationals of Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, and five crew members. According to the latest reports, 38 people, including seven Russians, died, while 29 others survived.

Among the passengers there were 16 Russian citizens; 9 of them survived the crash and were taken to Moscow’s or federal medical centers.

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