ASTANA: An Azerbaijan Airlines plane en route from Baku to Grozny in Russia crashed near Kazakhstan's Aktau on Christmas Day, possibly as a result of being struck by a Russian surface-to-air missile or anti-aircraft fire, according to reports. Military analysts have highlighted this possibility based on evidence reported in multiple news outlets.
The crash resulted in the deaths of 38 of the 67 people on board, which included 62 passengers and five crew members. Among the 29 survivors were two young girls, aged 11 and 16.
Ongoing investigations have revealed damage to the aircraft that aligns with shrapnel impact from missiles. Holes in the fuselage and marks on the tail section have raised suspicions, with foreign media reports linking the findings to antiaircraft weaponry.
Footage shared on social media showed the plane’s wreckage riddled with multiple holes, varying in size from pinpricks to several inches across.
The crash occurred in airspace where drone activity linked to the Ukraine conflict had been reported. Grozny, the plane's destination, is heavily protected by air-defense systems due to its strategic importance. Observers noted the damage to the aircraft closely resembles patterns typically caused by air-defense missile strikes.
Aviation risk experts have further suggested the plane may have inadvertently entered a heavily monitored and defended zone, leading to it being targeted, potentially as a mistake. Investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the crash to confirm the cause.
Footage shared on social media showed the plane’s wreckage riddled with multiple holes, varying in size from pinpricks to several inches across.
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