Russia Accused of Shooting Down Passenger Plane in Christmas Tragedy

A tragic Christmas Day plane crash that killed 38 people is now being blamed on Russian antiaircraft fire, according to an investigation conducted by Azerbaijani authorities. The Azerbaijan Airlines flight was en route from Baku to Grozny, Russia, when it went down near the Caspian Sea in Kazakhstan, after reportedly being struck by a Russian missile.

An initial report from Azerbaijani investigators, supported by separate aviation experts, suggests the plane was either hit directly by a Russian antiaircraft missile or damaged by shrapnel from it. Survivors of the crash recalled hearing a loud explosion before the aircraft began experiencing difficulties.

“Everyone heard the explosion,” said Subkhonkul Rakhimov, a crash survivor, during an interview with RT.

The flight diverted its course after flying over Russian territory where military forces were actively shooting down Ukrainian drones. Sources indicate that Russian authorities denied the aircraft permission to land at multiple airports, jammed its GPS, and redirected it to Aktau, Kazakhstan, where it ultimately crashed.

Russia’s Federal Air Traffic Agency has claimed the crash was caused by the aircraft colliding with a flock of birds. However, Azerbaijani officials and independent experts have dismissed this explanation, pointing to visible evidence consistent with a missile strike.

Additionally, a U.S. official familiar with the incident stated that preliminary findings indicated signs of a Russian Pantsir-S air defense system being involved in the tragedy.

Zaur Shiriyev, a scholar at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, stated that Azerbaijan expects both an explanation and an apology from Moscow. “Why were the pilots denied landing permissions, and why was their GPS jammed? Both could have saved the plane and its passengers,” Shiriyev said.

An Azerbaijani official told Reuters that while they do not believe the strike was intentional, they expect Russia to admit responsibility for what happened.

This incident has drawn comparisons to the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over Ukraine, when a Russian-backed separatist missile killed 298 passengers. That tragedy marked a turning point in global scrutiny of Russia’s military actions.

As the investigation continues, the world watches closely for Russia’s response, and for justice for the victims of this preventable tragedy.

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