**EU Issues New Alert for Planes Flying in Russian Airspace**
The European Union’s aviation safety watchdog has issued a new alert advising non-European airlines to avoid flying over western Russia. This comes after an Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashed on December 25, killing 38 people.
**Crash Investigated**
The crash is believed to have been caused by Russian air defenses firing at Ukrainian drones. The investigation found that there were coordination deficiencies between the military and civil aviation services in Russia, which led to the targeting of a civilian plane.
**New Alert Issued**
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued an alert advising non-European airlines not to operate within western Russian airspace. This is because the ongoing conflict in Ukraine poses a risk of civil aircraft being unintentionally targeted due to possible coordination deficiencies and potential misidentification.
**Russian Airspace Already Closed**
Russian airspace is already closed to European Union airlines. The new alert applies only to third-country operators authorized by EASA.
**Azerbaijani Plane Crash**
The Azerbaijan Airlines plane was en route from Baku to Grozny, Chechnya, when it changed course and crashed in Kazakhstan. Multiple reports and official statements attributed the disaster to a missile launched by a Russian air defense system.
**Russian President’s Response**
Russian President Vladimir Putin offered condolences but stopped short of admitting Russian responsibility for the crash. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev criticized Russia’s handling of the incident, accusing its agencies of suppressing evidence and promoting absurd versions of events.
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