Thu Dec 26 14:08:01 UTC 2024: ## Azerbaijan Airlines Plane Crash: Missile Strike Suspected, 38 Dead

**Aqtau, Kazakhstan –** A devastating plane crash on Christmas Day has claimed the lives of 38 passengers and crew aboard an Azerbaijan Airlines flight en route from Baku to Grozny, Russia. The Embraer 190 jet crashed three kilometers from Aqtau airport in Kazakhstan, leaving 29 survivors, including two young girls.

Multiple international news outlets, including the Wall Street Journal and Euronews, are reporting that preliminary evidence suggests the plane may have been struck by a surface-to-air missile. Military experts and aviation specialists point to shrapnel damage visible in photos and videos of the wreckage, including large holes in the fuselage and marks on the tail section consistent with missile impact. A video circulating on social media purportedly shows a passenger suffering from shrapnel wounds.

Several sources, including a Russian military blogger and the aviation risk management firm Osprey Flight Solutions, indicate the damage aligns with that caused by anti-aircraft fire. The plane was flying over an area with reported Ukrainian drone activity and near Grozny, a heavily defended Chechen capital that has been a target for Ukrainian drones in the ongoing conflict with Russia. Survivors reported hearing loud explosions before the crash, further fueling speculation.

While some survivors initially claimed the plane was hit by a flock of birds, Azerbaijan Airlines has retracted that statement. The black box has been recovered and is being analyzed. The possibility that Russian air defenses mistook the plane for a drone and engaged it is being investigated, although this remains unsubstantiated. Russia has condemned speculation and stressed the need to await the results of the official investigation.

Kazakh officials have stated that a thorough investigation is underway, with both Kazakhstan and Russia asserting their commitment to transparency. Azerbaijan has declared a national day of mourning and President Ilham Aliyev has cancelled a planned visit to Russia. The crash bears chilling similarities to the 2014 downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 by Russian-backed forces. The investigation promises to shed light on the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident.

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