U.S. Department of Defense: No Evidence to Suggest Surface-to-Air Missile Took Down Plane Carrying Russian Mercenary Leader
WASHINGTON, Aug 24 (Reuters) – The U.S. Department of Defense stated on Thursday that there is currently no information to suggest that a surface-to-air missile caused the crash of the plane presumed to be carrying Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin. Air Force Brigadier General Patrick Ryder, a Pentagon spokesperson, provided no evidence or further details on the cause of the crash during a news conference.
Earlier on Thursday, Reuters reported that the United States was considering several theories regarding the crash, with two U.S. officials suggesting that a surface-to-air missile likely hit the plane. However, these officials, who spoke anonymously, emphasized that the information was still preliminary and subject to review.
“We don’t have any information to indicate right now the press reporting stating that there was some type of surface-to-air missile that took down the plane,” Ryder told reporters.
Russian air authorities have confirmed that Prigozhin, along with his right-hand man Dmitry Utkin and eight others, were on the private plane that crashed with no survivors northwest of Moscow on Wednesday.
The Wall Street Journal, on the other hand, reported a different theory, citing unnamed U.S. officials who suggested that a bomb or sabotage caused the crash.
It is not uncommon for conflicting intelligence views to emerge within the U.S. government in the aftermath of major international events.
The crash occurred exactly two months after Prigozhin and his Wagner mercenaries staged a mutiny, taking control of the southern city of Rostov and advancing towards Moscow.
U.S. President Joe Biden expressed his lack of surprise at reports of Prigozhin’s death, stating that not much happens in Russia without the involvement of President Vladimir Putin.
In response, Putin expressed his condolences to the families of those who died and emphasized the need to await the outcome of the official investigation. Prigozhin, the 62-year-old head of the Wagner mercenary group, frequently criticized the Russian army’s leadership for its handling of the war in Ukraine.
The Embraer executive jet model involved in the crash had only experienced one previous accident in over 20 years of service, and that incident was unrelated to mechanical failure.
Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali; Editing by Alistair Bell and Daniel Wallis
How does the Department of Defense’s current stance on the incident differ from earlier reports that suggested the possibility of a surface-to-air missile being involved
U.S. Department of Defense: No Proof of Surface-to-Air Missile Causing Plane Crash of Russian Mercenary Leader
In a news conference held on Thursday, the U.S. Department of Defense made it clear that there is no evidence indicating that a surface-to-air missile caused the crash of the plane believed to be carrying Russian mercenary leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin. Air Force Brigadier General Patrick Ryder, speaking on behalf of the Pentagon, did not provide any further information or present any proof regarding the cause of the crash.
This statement comes after earlier reports from Reuters that suggested the United States was considering the possibility of a surface-to-air missile being involved in the incident. However, the Department of Defense’s current stance is that there is no substantial basis for such a claim.
Interesting, this raises even more questions about the cause of the plane crash.