Baku, Dec 26 (EFE).– An Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) passenger plane that crashed Wednesday in Kazakhstan, killing 38 people, was struck by a Russian surface-to-air missile, two government sources told EFE on Thursday.
According to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the flight 8432, which departed from Baku, was hit by shrapnel from a missile while flying through the airspace near Grozny, Russia, its intended destination.
The incident is under investigation, with both Azerbaijani and international aviation authorities expected to participate.
The aircraft, an Embraer 190, was reportedly denied emergency landing clearance at Russian airports, including Grozny and Makhachkala.
It was redirected to Aktau, Kazakhstan, forcing the plane to fly over the Caspian Sea.
The crash occurred near Aktau airport, leaving 38 dead and 29 survivors, according to official reports.
Pro-government outlet Caliber.Az cited Russian sources stating the missile was fired as part of air defenses targeting Ukrainian drones over Chechnya, where the plane’s flight path intersected.
The Kremlin urged caution, asking not to rush to conclusions about the cause of the crash.
Preliminary explanations under consideration include a collision with a flock of birds or the explosion of an onboard oxygen tank.
However, images circulating on social media purportedly show shrapnel damage on the wreckage.
AZAL has since suspended all flights to Grozny and Makhachkala pending an investigation.
Brazilian aviation experts are expected to arrive in Kazakhstan on Friday to assist with the probe.
The crash marks a tragic chapter for Azerbaijan Airlines, with officials and international experts working to uncover the exact sequence of events that led to the disaster. EFE
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