BAKU, Azerbaijan — An Azeri airline company has halted all flights to Afghanistan after one of its cargo planes crashed in Afghanistan's east.
The Russian-designed Il-76 plane flying from Baku and owned by the Silk Way airline company burst into flames after hitting a remote mountaintop on Tuesday. The nine-member crew was killed.
Silk Way president Zaur Akhundov told reporters on Saturday that the company has suspended all flights to Afghanistan pending the investigation into the crash.
Aircraft are used extensively in Afghanistan by both NATO and Afghan government forces to transport and supply troops. Silk Way used to send cargo planes to Afghanistan five times a day.
Ikham Amirov, who is heading the crash investigation, said the cause of the crash has not been established.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
