TEL AVIV, Dec 30: Israeli national carrier El Al has announced the suspension of all flights to Moscow through the end of March 2025. This decision follows the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines flight en route to Russia’s Grozny, the airline’s spokesperson informed RIA Novosti on Monday.
“After careful evaluation of the situation, El Al has decided to halt flights from Tel Aviv to Moscow until the conclusion of the winter season (March 31). This determination was made in consultation with Israeli authorities to fully understand the circumstances surrounding the situation,” the spokesperson stated.
Passengers will receive notifications about these changes shortly, the spokesperson added.
The Embraer 190 aircraft operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, which was flying from Baku to Grozny, crashed on December 25 near Aktau in western Kazakhstan. There were 62 passengers and five crew members on board, with Kazakhstan’s emergencies ministry reporting that 29 people survived the incident.
Dmitry Yadrov, the head of Russia’s Federal Agency for Air Transport (Rosaviatsiya), indicated that the airspace situation in Russia was challenging on the day of the crash, citing attacks by Ukrainian combat drones targeting civilian infrastructure in Grozny and Vladikavkaz. Airspace restrictions had been imposed around Grozny’s international airport, and dense fog reduced visibility to 1,640 feet. Although the plane was offered an alternative landing location, it opted to continue to Aktau, Yadrov explained.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev commented on Sunday that the aircraft was not deliberately shot down in Russian airspace. He noted that the real cause of the crash would be revealed once the black boxes are examined. Additionally, he pointed out that the fuselage displayed holes, eliminating the possibility of a bird strike. Aliyev also stated that Russia should hold accountable those responsible for the incident and compensate the Azerbaijani government, victims, and crew members of the flight. (UNI)
