New Delhi: The Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash that killed 38 people in Kazakhstan’s Aktau city may have been caused by a missile strike in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and not due to a technical snag or a pilot error as reported till now, a new report has claimed.
The flight, travelling from Baku in Azerbaijan to Grozny in Russia’s Chechen Republic, diverted from its route on Wednesday near an area where Russia’s air defences had recently intercepted Ukrainian drones. Following the diversion, the plane attempted an emergency landing three kilometres from Aktau, Kazakhstan but crashed into a fireball.
Azerbaijan has now launched a criminal investigation into the crash amid allegations that the airline became caught in the crossfire of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Azerbaijan Airlines flight caught in Russia-Ukraine crossfire?
According to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), UK-based aviation security firm Osprey Flight Solutions stated that an Azerbaijan Airlines plane was “likely shot down by a Russian military air-defence system.” This assessment was based on crash footage, visible aircraft damage, and recent military activity.
Matt Borie, the firm’s Chief Intelligence Officer, told the WSJ that “video of the wreckage and the airspace security environment in southwest Russia suggests the aircraft may have been struck by anti-aircraft fire.”
Reports of air defence activity coincide with drone attacks on Chechnya on the morning of December 25.
A Ukrainian official also claimed that the plane had been “damaged by the Russians.” Ukrainian national security official Andriy Kovalenko further alleged in a post on X that the aircraft was downed by a “Russian air-defence system.”
Plane’s wreckage reveals signs of missile strike
Aviation experts have pointed to holes in the plane’s tail section, visible in crash footage, as evidence suggesting the possibility of a missile strike or air defence activity, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Footage analysed by Russian independent media outlet Meduza also indicated a large surface-to-air missile impact on the tail, which did not align with typical damage from a bird strike. However, Meduza noted that further information is required to confirm this.
Following the incident, Azerbaijan Airlines suspended flights to Grozny and Makhachkala on December 25, according to TASS, and customers have been warned of travel risks.
A thorough and impartial investigation will be crucial in determining the exact cause of the crash, which resulted in the loss of 38 lives.
Plane’s black box to be analysed for clues
Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have announced their cooperation in the investigation. Kazakhstan’s transport prosecutor, Timur Suleimenov, confirmed at a briefing that the plane’s black box, which holds critical flight data, has been recovered and will aid in determining the cause of the crash, according to Interfax.
Meanwhile, Russia’s aviation watchdog has denied allegations of an attack. “Preliminary findings suggest that after a bird strike caused an emergency on board, the pilot opted to divert to an alternate airfield, selecting Aktau,” TASS said.
