Fri Dec 27 12:55:58 UTC 2024: ## Azerbaijan Airlines Plane Crash: Missile Fire Suspected, 38 Dead
**Aktau, Kazakhstan/Baku, Azerbaijan** – A devastating plane crash in Kazakhstan on Christmas Day has claimed the lives of 38 passengers aboard an Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 aircraft. The flight, J28243, en route from Baku to Grozny, Chechnya, was denied landing in Grozny due to fog and subsequently crashed near Aktau after experiencing what Azerbaijan Airlines attributes to “external physical and technical interference.” While an official investigation is ongoing, mounting evidence suggests the plane was struck by a Russian surface-to-air missile.
A pro-government Azerbaijani website, citing unnamed officials, alleges a Pantsir-S air defense system missile downed the plane. This claim is supported by eyewitness accounts describing a loud bang before erratic flight behavior, and by images from the crash site showing damage consistent with shrapnel impact, noted by several international news outlets including the Wall Street Journal and AFP. A passenger corroborated the account, describing a loud bang followed by unusual plane movement.
While the Kremlin denies involvement, Reuters, citing four sources, reports that Russian air defenses mistakenly shot down the aircraft. Rosaviatsia, Russia’s aviation watchdog, stated that the plane’s captain was offered alternative landing locations but chose Aktau. The incident bears chilling similarities to the downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 in 2014, also attributed to a surface-to-air missile.
FlightRadar24 data indicated strong GPS jamming prior to the crash, further fueling speculation. Following the incident, Azerbaijan Airlines suspended flights to several Russian airports, citing safety concerns. The incident has left 29 survivors and prompted international calls for a thorough and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
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