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Azerbaijan Airlines Plane Shot Down by Russian Air Defence, Killing 38
Tragedy strikes as an Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashes in Kazakhstan after reportedly being shot down by Russian air defences.
ND
by News Desk
2024-12-26
Azerbaijan Airlines Plane Shot Down by Russian Air Defence, Killing 38

Baku: In a tragic development, a passenger jet operated by Azerbaijan Airlines crashed in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, killing 38 people on board. Preliminary findings from Azerbaijan’s investigation into the crash indicate that the aircraft was brought down by a Russian air defence system.

Flight J2-8243, an Embraer passenger jet, had been en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny in Russia’s southern Chechnya region. However, the plane deviated from its original path and crossed hundreds of miles over the Caspian Sea before crashing near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan.

While the aircraft had been reported to have suffered an emergency—potentially caused by a bird strike—Russian aviation authorities had not explained why the plane had veered off its designated flight path. The nearest Russian airport to the plane’s location, Makhachkala, was closed on the morning of the crash.

Russian Air Defence Strike
A source familiar with the Azerbaijani investigation revealed to Reuters that preliminary results suggest the plane was hit by a Russian Pantsir-S air defence system. The system’s electronic warfare capabilities reportedly disrupted the plane’s communications during its approach into Grozny, leading to the loss of control.

While there has been no indication that the incident was intentional, the Azerbaijani government is urging Russia to acknowledge its role in the downing of the aircraft. The source emphasized that the facts point toward a Russian air defence strike.

Aviation and Diplomatic Implications
This crash marks a significant incident amid ongoing tensions in the region, particularly in light of Russia’s use of air defence systems to protect against Ukrainian drone strikes. The incident has sparked a diplomatic response from Baku, which has called for an official acknowledgment from Moscow regarding the circumstances of the crash.

Investigation Ongoing
Azerbaijan’s aviation authorities, along with international investigators, are continuing to probe the exact causes of the crash. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of other contributing factors, including technical failures or external impacts.
Tagged:

PlaneCrash

AzerbaijanAirlines

Kazakhstan

RussianAirDefence
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