Femi Ashekun/
An Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane was allegedly shot down by Russian air defenses, according to early findings from Azerbaijan’s investigation into the crash. The Embraer aircraft crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, yesterday, killing 38 people.
Flight J2-8243 had flown from Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital, to Grozny in Russia’s Chechnya region before veering off its route. It crossed the Caspian Sea and crashed in Kazakhstan in a fiery explosion.
The cause of the crash is under investigation, but Azerbaijani sources claim the plane was struck by a Russian Pantsir-S air defense system.
Reports indicate the plane may have been targeted as it flew near southern Russia, where Moscow frequently deploys air defenses against Ukrainian drone strikes. A source said, “Its communications were paralyzed by Russian electronic warfare systems as it approached Grozny.”
However, the source added, “No one claims it was intentional, but Azerbaijan expects Russia to acknowledge the incident.”
Russian authorities have not commented on the allegations. The Kremlin emphasised the importance of waiting for the investigation to conclude. “It is wrong to speculate before official findings are released,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated.
Footage taken inside the plane before the crash showed oxygen masks deployed and passengers wearing life vests.
Survivors described chaos, and later images of the wreckage revealed shrapnel damage to the aircraft’s tail. Of the 67 passengers on board, 29 survived with injuries.
Aviation experts, including Osprey Flight Solutions, noted that evidence suggests the plane may have been hit by anti-aircraft fire. The crash occurred in an area where Russian air defenses have been active against Ukrainian drones, raising questions about whether the aircraft was mistaken for a threat.
Russia has been using advanced air defense systems and electronic jamming equipment in the region due to ongoing drone attacks from Ukraine, which have intensified during the ongoing war.
On the day of the crash, Russian authorities reported shooting down 59 Ukrainian drones.
The U.S. National Security Council referred inquiries to Azerbaijani and Kazakh officials as the investigation continues. Kazakh authorities have not confirmed or denied the allegations against Russia, stating the inquiry has not yet reached any conclusions.
This tragic incident highlights the risks of operating civilian flights near active conflict zones and raises serious questions about the safety of airspace in the region.
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