An Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on Christmas Day claimed 38 lives, with initial investigations pointing to “external physical and technical interference,” according to the airline.
Transport Minister Rashad Nabiyev revealed that survivors heard three explosions while the aircraft flew over Grozny, sparking speculation about a possible missile or rocket attack. Investigators are examining evidence suggesting Russian air defense systems may have mistakenly targeted the plane. However, the Azerbaijani government has refrained from directly blaming Russia to prevent escalating tensions with President Vladimir Putin.
Russian authorities have not commented officially, but Dmitry Yadrov, head of Russia’s Federal Agency for Air Transport, cited “complicated conditions” in Grozny at the time, with closed skies due to Ukrainian drone attacks on civilian infrastructure. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that conclusions would only be drawn after the investigation.
Azerbaijani aviation experts suspect the plane’s GPS systems were disrupted by electronic jamming, and its hydraulics were damaged by shrapnel from missile explosions. Flight attendants and passengers reported chaotic scenes, with loud blasts, visible shrapnel damage, and panic onboard.
Veteran pilot Tahir Agaguliev confirmed that the damage appeared to be caused by shrapnel rather than a direct missile strike. Pro-government MP Rasim Musabekov claimed the aircraft was shot down over Russian territory, demanding clarity on the incident.
Azerbaijan Airlines has suspended flights to seven Russian cities, with Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan investigating jointly. Azerbaijan has also called for an international inquiry, while Brazil’s Embraer, the aircraft manufacturer, has sent specialists to the crash site, 3 kilometers from Aktau Airport.
Baku has declined the suggestion of a CIS-led investigation, favoring a broader international probe into the crash.
