Crew members and survivors of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash in Kazakhstan reported hearing loud noises before the aircraft crashed, increasing speculation that a Russian anti-aircraft missile might have been responsible for the tragedy. Russian President Vladimir Putin apologized for the incident but did not admit responsibility. The flight crashed near Aktau in Kazakhstan after deviating from an area where Russian air defense systems were being used against Ukrainian drones. 38 people were killed, while 29 survived, with survivors reporting hearing multiple explosions before the crash.
Survivors of the crash described hearing two explosions in the sky before the plane crashed. Flight attendants on board reported that the oxygen masks automatically released after the first noise. The pilot of the flight had to divert to Kazakhstan due to fog after being denied landing in Grozny. Survivors reported feeling like the plane was damaged after the first bang and hearing subsequent noises that seemed like something hitting the aircraft from the outside. The plane’s pilots died in the crash as it descended rapidly and burst into flames upon impact.
Russian President Vladimir Putin apologized for the incident, acknowledging that it occurred in Russian airspace. He expressed condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. The Kremlin indicated that at the time of the crash, Russian air defense systems were repelling attacks by Ukrainian drones over Grozny, Mozdok, and Vladikavkaz. White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby mentioned early indications that the plane might have been downed by Russian air defense systems but did not provide further details as the investigation was ongoing.
Azerbaijan Airlines has suspended flights to multiple Russian airports following the crash. Initial investigations indicated that the aircraft was possibly struck by a Russian anti-aircraft missile or shrapnel from such a missile. Azerbaijani officials called for Russia to admit responsibility for the incident, although no accusations of intentional action were made. Questions were raised about why the flight diverted to Kazakhstan, with Russian aviation authorities suggesting that dense fog and concerns about Ukrainian drones prompted the decision. The loss of communication during the aircraft’s approach to Grozny was also linked to electronic warfare systems.
Azerbaijan’s probe into the crash suggested that the aircraft was hit by a Russian Pantsir-S air defense system. Survivors also reported hearing multiple bangs before the crash, leading to speculation that the plane was damaged mid-air. The investigation was ongoing to determine the exact cause of the crash. Russia’s aviation authority stated that the captain had been offered alternative landing sites but chose to divert to Kazakhstan due to the fog and alert about Ukrainian drones. The airline announced the suspension of flights to additional Russian airports following the tragedy, adding to the restrictions that were previously in place.
