Azerbaijan Plane Accident: The Azerbaijan Airlines plane that crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan on Christmas Day may have been shot down by Russia by mistake. Military experts have expressed this apprehension in many news reports. The plane was accidentally hit by a Russian surface-to-air missile or anti-aircraft attack while en route from Baku to Grozny, Russia.
According to NDTV report, 38 of the 67 people on board the plane were killed, including 62 passengers and five crew members. Two little girls aged 11 and 16 were also among the 29 survivors. The investigation of this accident is going on, but some foreign media reports – Wall Street Journal, Euronews and news agency AFP quoting aviation experts have pointed to the holes in the plane’s fuselage and marks on the tail section, which are from the shrapnel of missiles. Are commensurate with the losses incurred.
Many holes found in Azerbaijan Airlines plane
A video posted on social media platform It is also reported that the Azerbaijan Airlines plane was flying in the area where Ukrainian drone activity was reported.
What is the role of air defense missile system?
At the same time, Russian military blogger Yuri Podolyaka told news agency AFP that the holes seen in the plane wreckage (pictures) are similar to the damage caused by an “anti-aircraft missile system”. He said the damage suggested the plane “may have accidentally hit an air-defense missile system.”
Additionally, Matt Sacks, chief intelligence officer at aviation risk management firm Osprey Flight Solutions, told the Journal, “The debris and circumstances surrounding the security of airspace in southwestern Russia indicate the plane was hit by some type of anti-aircraft missile.” Was killed by fire.”
Very interesting: Shrapnel marks on the fuselage of Azerbaijan Airlines plane that crashed in Kazakhstan today. pic.twitter.com/3X5PTIR66E
— Clash Report (@clashreport) December 25, 2024
Russian media outlet Meduza also agreed in its assessment. A report in The Kyiv Independent said footage of damaged aircraft parts showed signs of impact from a surface-to-air missile and that similar damage was observed on other civilian and military aircraft shot down by such missiles. Was.
There are also reports that Grozny was attacked by Ukrainian drones a few weeks ago, suggesting that Russian air defense forces deployed there mistook the Azerbaijan Airlines plane for a drone and attacked the Embraer 190 jet. . However, these reports have not been confirmed.
Also read: Video of Kazakhstan plane accident goes viral on internet, scared passenger was remembering God when the plane fell downwards