A tragic crash involving an Azerbaijan Airlines flight in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, which claimed the lives of 38 people, was reportedly caused by a Russian air defence system, according to four sources familiar with the investigation. The Embraer passenger jet, en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny in Russia’s Chechnya region, veered off course and crashed near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan after diverting from its scheduled flight path.
The flight had flown hundreds of miles off its intended route and ended up on the opposite shore of the Caspian Sea. Preliminary information from Russia’s aviation watchdog suggested the crash may have been caused by an emergency, possibly a bird strike. However, sources close to the investigation have revealed that the aircraft’s communications were reportedly disabled by electronic warfare systems as it approached Grozny, with one source stating that the plane was hit by a Russian Pantsir-S air defence system.
Although officials have not explained why the plane deviated over the Caspian Sea, it occurred after recent Ukrainian drone strikes had targeted Chechnya. Additionally, the nearest Russian airport along the flight path was reportedly closed that morning.
One of the Azerbaijani sources involved in the investigation told Reuters that while there was no suggestion the downing was intentional, the evidence pointed to the involvement of Russian air defence systems. “Baku expects the Russian side to acknowledge responsibility for the downing of the Azerbaijani aircraft,” the source added.