26-12-2024 (AKTAU) In a startling development, preliminary investigations suggest that an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger aircraft that crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan on Christmas Day was struck by a Russian Pantsir-S air defence system, resulting in 38 fatalities among the 67 passengers and crew aboard.
The Embraer 190 aircraft, which deviated significantly from its intended flight path between Baku and Grozny, experienced what investigators describe as a complete communications failure before vanishing from Russian radar systems. The aircraft only became visible again shortly before its tragic descent over the Caspian Sea.
Multiple sources within Azerbaijan’s investigation team, speaking to both Reuters and local news outlet AnewZ, have corroborated claims that the passenger jet was mistakenly targeted by Russian air defences. The incident reportedly occurred as the aircraft attempted to land at Grozny airport, which was simultaneously dealing with Ukrainian drone incursions.
Aviation security experts have weighed in on the incident. Osprey Flight Solutions, a respected British aviation security firm, issued an advisory to its clients suggesting the high probability of the aircraft being downed by Russian military air defence systems. Andrew Nicholson, Osprey’s CEO, revealed that his organisation had previously issued over 200 alerts concerning drone attacks and air defence systems in Russian airspace during the ongoing conflict.
Physical evidence appears to support these claims. Analysis of the wreckage reveals damage patterns consistent with anti-aircraft missile strikes, according to multiple sources including Baza, a Telegram channel with known connections to Russian security services. Russian military expert Yury Podolyaka noted similarities between the damage patterns and those typically caused by anti-aircraft missile systems.
The incident has prompted international concern, with NATO, Russian, Azerbaijani, and Kazakh officials all calling for thorough investigations. While Russian and Kazakh authorities have urged against speculation, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov advocating patience for the investigation’s conclusion, the evidence continues to mount.
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev declared a national day of mourning and cancelled his scheduled visit to Russia. The crash has left 11 survivors in intensive care, with both Azerbaijan and Russia coordinating emergency response efforts to transport survivors for treatment.
In a particularly poignant account, a local Kazakh woman named Elmira described rushing to the crash site to assist survivors, recounting heart-wrenching scenes of bloodied passengers crying for help and young survivors pleading for their family members’ rescue.
The incident has drawn international attention, with Chinese President Xi Jinping extending condolences to his counterparts in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia.
