Did Russian Anti-Aircraft System Shoot Down Passenger Plane?

A U.S. official told media outlets that a Russian anti-aircraft system may have shot down the Azerbaijan Airlines plane that crashed in Kazakhstan.

“A Russian air defence system targeted the Azerbaijan Airlines jet that crashed in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijani officials tell Anadolu Agency,” Turkish public broadcaster TRT World stated.

#BREAKING: A Russian air defence system targeted the Azerbaijan Airlines jet that crashed in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijani officials tell Anadolu Agency pic.twitter.com/moet9K3SgD

— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) December 26, 2024

Per ABC News:

There is new evidence that the passenger plane may have been shot down by a Russian surface-to-air missile from a Pantsir-S1 system, a high-level Azeri government source told ABC News.

If Russia did indeed strike the Azerbaijan plane, the U.S. official said it would be yet another example of Russia’s recklessness in the war with Ukraine. The plane was flying over an area where Moscow’s air defense has battled Ukrainian drones recently.

The White House referred ABC News to officials in the region as the investigation continues.

At least 38 people are dead and 29 others injured after the Azerbaijan Airlines passenger aircraft crashed near Kazakhstan’s Aktau Airport on Wednesday morning, a spokesperson for Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations told ABC News.

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Six individuals reportedly remain hospitalized from the deadly crash.

Footage shows the aircraft hurtling towards the ground and bursting into flames upon impact.

WATCH:

#BREAKING | An Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer E190 from Baku to Grozny crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, with 72 people aboard. Originally bound for Grozny, it was redirected to Makhachkala and Aktau, circling before requesting an emergency landing. #Airways #News pic.twitter.com/jz6UNAmFE4

— Airways Magazine (@airwaysmagazine) December 25, 2024

WATCH:

An Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashed after requesting an emergency landing in Kazakhstan. At least 28 people survived the crash. pic.twitter.com/e9gSQ1ffu9

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) December 25, 2024

“The man who filmed a video for his wife as the Azerbaijan Airlines fell from the sky, miraculously survived, filmed another video showing apparent shrapnel damage. It is now suspected that the plane crashed after being hit by Russian air defenses. Subkhon Rakhimov, the man who filmed the video, shared footage of damage towards the rear of the plane,” Collin Rugg wrote.

“Survivors say there was an explosion outside the plane before it went down. Reports say Russian air defenses hit the plane thinking it was a Ukrainian drone. Only 29 people survived,” he added.

WATCH:

NEW: The man who filmed a video for his wife as the Azerbaijan Airlines fell from the sky, miraculously survived, filmed another video showing apparent shrapnel damage.

It is now suspected that the plane crashed after being hit by Russian air defenses.

Subkhon Rakhimov, the man… pic.twitter.com/Gln20M8FjL

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) December 26, 2024

From the Associated Press:

Speaking at a news conference Wednesday, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said that it was too soon to speculate on the reasons behind the crash, but said that the weather had forced the plane to change from its planned course.

“The information provided to me is that the plane changed its course between Baku and Grozny due to worsening weather conditions and headed to Aktau airport, where it crashed upon landing,” he said.

Russia’s civil aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, said that preliminary information indicated the pilots diverted to Aktau after a bird strike led to an emergency on board.

Authorities in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Russia were tight-lipped about a possible cause of the crash but a lawmaker in Azerbaijan blamed Moscow. Rasim Musabekov told the Azerbaijani news agency Turan that the plane was fired on while in the skies over Grozny and urged Russia to offer an official apology.

“Those who did this must face criminal charges,” Musabekov was quoted by Turan as saying, adding that compensations to the victims should also be paid. “If it doesn’t happen, relations will be affected.”

As the official crash investigation started, some experts pointed out that holes seen in the plane’s tail section could indicate that it could have come under fire from Russian air defense systems fending off a Ukrainian drone attack.

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This is a Guest Post from our friends over at 100 Percent Fed Up.

View the original article here.