Baku: Azerbaijan has introduced a regulation permitting the destruction of aircraft that fail to adhere to mandatory landing requirements, as well as in situations involving incorrect information about passengers or the necessity of self-defense.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, this new rule is part of the recent amendments by the Cabinet of Ministers to the “Rules on the Use of Air Defense Forces’ On-Duty Units and Combat Equipment Against Aircraft and Flight Devices Violating State Borders.” The updated regulation allows for a warning shot to be fired prior to any action being taken against non-compliant aircraft.
Previously, Azerbaijan’s regulations only permitted the destruction of civilian aircraft if it had been hijacked and was confirmed to have no passengers on board, and then only when the aircraft was stationary at an aerodrome. Even in such scenarios, a warning shot was required before any further action could be taken.