Baku: Russian air defenses are suspected of downing an Azerbaijan Airlines plane that crashed in Kazakhstan, killing 38 people, according to four sources familiar with Azerbaijan’s preliminary investigation. The Embraer passenger jet, operating Flight J2-8243, went down on Wednesday in a fiery crash near Aktau, Kazakhstan, after veering from its planned route.
The flight, which originated in Baku, Azerbaijan, was destined for Grozny in Russia’s Chechnya region. However, it inexplicably crossed the Caspian Sea before crashing on its opposite shore. Russia’s aviation authority suggested a possible bird strike caused an onboard emergency, though this theory did not explain the unusual deviation. The closest airport on its route, Makhachkala, was reportedly closed that morning.
WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT
— Reuters (@Reuters) December 27, 2024
An Azerbaijan Airlines flight that crashed in Kazakhstan was downed by a Russian air defense system, four sources with knowledge of the investigation told @Reuters https://t.co/abznwSlO9b pic.twitter.com/neCgKwuvhc
Preliminary Findings Suggest Russian Involvement
An Azerbaijani source revealed that early findings point to the aircraft being struck by a Russian Pantsir-S air-defense system. “No one claims it was intentional,” the source stated, adding, “Baku expects the Russian side to confess to the shooting down of the Azerbaijani aircraft.” The source further noted the plane’s communications were disrupted by electronic warfare systems near Grozny. Three additional sources corroborated the preliminary findings.
The Russian Defense Ministry has not responded to inquiries, and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to speculate, emphasizing the need to await the investigation’s conclusion.
International Reactions and Calls for Transparency
A U.S. official indicated early evidence of a Russian anti-aircraft system’s involvement. Meanwhile, Canada expressed “deep concern” over the reports and urged Russia to ensure a transparent investigation. “We call on Russia to allow for an open and transparent investigation into the incident and to accept its findings,” Canada’s foreign ministry said in a statement on X.
Canada is deeply concerned by reports that Russian Air Defence Forces may have fired a missile on Azerbaijan Airlines flight 8243 causing it to crash land.
— Foreign Policy CAN (@CanadaFP) December 26, 2024
Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister Qanat Bozymbaev refrained from confirming the theory, while the regional transport prosecutor stated the investigation remains ongoing.
Also Read | China’s Industrial Profits Narrow Losses, But Economic Recovery Faces Hurdles
Evidence and Witness Accounts
Footage taken by passengers before the crash depicted oxygen masks deployed and passengers wearing life vests. Later images revealed injured survivors emerging from the wreckage, with 29 people surviving the disaster. Photos of the wreckage displayed apparent shrapnel damage to the plane’s tail section.
Osprey Flight Solutions, an aviation security firm, noted that wreckage footage and airspace conditions suggest anti-aircraft fire might have been involved. The company reported that the Azerbaijani aircraft faced GPS jamming during its flight over southwestern Russia, a region where Russian air defenses have been active in response to Ukrainian drone attacks.
Also Read | Yen Nears 5-Month Low as BOJ Stays Cautious, Fed Stays Hawkish
Escalating Regional Tensions
Russia’s southern regions have recently seen intensified drone activity amid the ongoing war with Ukraine. On the day of the crash, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported downing 59 Ukrainian drones, including in airspace near the Sea of Azov. Flight operations in parts of Russia were briefly suspended due to the heightened activity.
The use of sophisticated electronic jamming systems and extensive air-defense deployments has become routine in Russia’s response to drone threats. However, these measures may have inadvertently contributed to the downing of the civilian aircraft, as suggested by the preliminary findings.
