El Al Suspends Tel Aviv-Moscow Flights After Azerbaijani Plane Crash

El Al has announced the suspension of its Tel Aviv-Moscow route for the coming week, following concerns about developments in Russian airspace. The decision comes after the crash of an Azerbaijani passenger plane on December 25, 2024, near Aktau, Kazakhstan, which is believed to have been caused by a Russian air defense system targeting Ukrainian drones.

The Embraer 190 aircraft, en route from Baku to Grozny, Chechnya, was reportedly struck by shrapnel from an anti-aircraft missile as it tried to make an emergency landing after being denied clearance to land in Grozny and Makhachkala. The crash killed 38 of the 69 passengers and crew aboard, with 29 survivors, some of whom described hearing an explosion from outside the plane.

In response to the tragedy, Azerbaijan Airlines suspended flights to Russia’s North Caucasus region, while Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev declared December 26 as a day of mourning. El Al’s suspension of flights follows a reassessment of the safety risks in Russian airspace, particularly due to ongoing military operations in the region. A decision on resuming operations will be made next week.

The incident raises significant concerns about the safety of civilian air traffic in regions where military activity poses a growing risk to commercial aviation. The tragic crash has brought renewed attention to the challenges of ensuring flight safety in conflict zones.