{"id":26549,"date":"2024-12-27T10:46:15","date_gmt":"2024-12-27T08:46:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/?p=26549"},"modified":"2024-12-27T10:46:16","modified_gmt":"2024-12-27T08:46:16","slug":"azerbaijan-airlines-crash-initial-investigations-suggest-possible-russian-air-defense-involvement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/azerbaijan-airlines-crash-initial-investigations-suggest-possible-russian-air-defense-involvement\/","title":{"rendered":"Azerbaijan Airlines crash: Initial investigations suggest possible Russian air defense involvement"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

6 minute read<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tragic crash of Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243 near the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan, on December 25 has left 38 dead and sparked intense scrutiny over the circumstances leading to the disaster. Preliminary investigations suggest the aircraft may have been inadvertently struck by Russian air defenses.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Embraer passenger jet, carrying 62 passengers and five crew members, was en route from Azerbaijan\u2019s capital, Baku, to Grozny in Russia\u2019s southern Chechnya region. After veering off its intended course, the plane crossed the Caspian Sea and crashed on the opposite shore in Kazakhstan. Officials report that 29 people survived the crash, including three children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Azerbaijan Airlines crash and ongoing investigation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Thursday (December 26), Azerbaijan observed a nationwide day of mourning for the victims of the plane crash. Speaking at a news conference, President Ilham Aliyev said it was too early to speculate on the cause, but confirmed the plane had diverted due to worsening weather conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aliyev convened a high-level meeting and ordered the formation of an investigative commission. The Azerbaijani government pledged a transparent investigation with regular updates. A criminal case has been initiated, with the Prosecutor General’s Office working closely with Kazakh authorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


What was the cause of the crash?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to multiple sources, the aircraft was struck by a missile fired from a Russian Pantsir-S air defense system while approaching Grozny. \u201cNo one claims that it was done on purpose. However, considering the facts, Baku expects the Russian side to confess to the shooting down of the Azerbaijani aircraft,\u201d an Azerbaijani source told Reuters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Azerbaijani government sources confirmed to Euronews that the crash was caused by a Russian surface-to-air missile fired over Grozny. Euronews also reported that despite requests for an emergency landing, the plane was denied entry to Russian airports and was directed to fly across the Caspian Sea to Aktau.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The aircraft experienced communication disruptions due to GPS jamming while flying over Russian territory, reportedly caused by electronic warfare systems deployed to counter Ukrainian drone strikes in the region. Russian officials had earlier closed Makhachkala Airport, the nearest facility to the plane\u2019s flight path, citing safety concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a social media post<\/mark><\/a>, flight-tracking app Flightradar24 said that the aircraft was \u201cexposed to GPS jamming and spoofing near Grozny.\u201d GPS jamming can severely disrupt a plane’s navigation and communication systems, posing significant safety risks. Data and video of the crash also \u201cindicate possible control issues with the aircraft,\u201d Flightradar24 said<\/mark><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Increasing speculation in Russian media that the Baku-Grozny Azerbaijan Airlines flight was shot down by Russian air defenses that mistook it for a Ukrainian drone. Footage of the damage to the fuselage. pic.twitter.com\/QzsDbCLDtS<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Yaroslav Trofimov (@yarotrof) December 25, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>