Russian Air Defenses Suspected of Downing Passenger Jet Before Crash
Russian Airlines Plane Crash in Kazakhstan May Have Been Result of Missile Defense System
On December 25, a passenger plane carrying 67 people crashed on Kazakhstan’s Caspian Sea coast, sparking speculation about the possible causes. Russian authorities initially pointed to heavy fog, a bird strike, and an oxygen tank explosion. However, emerging evidence suggests that the Azerbaijan Airlines plane may have been hit by an air-defense missile while defending against an alleged Ukrainian drone attack on Chechnya.
Reports indicate that the plane was on its way from Baku to Grozny when it encountered GPS interference and attempted to land in Grozny. Footage from inside the plane, damage to the tail section, survivor accounts, and reports of a suspected drone attack around the same time all point to a possible surface-to-air strike as the cause of the crash.
If confirmed, this would not be the first time a Russian missile has downed a passenger jet since the conflict with Ukraine began. In 2014, a Russian Buk missile shot down Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, killing all on board.
Flightradar24, a site tracking air traffic, reported that the aircraft experienced GPS jamming near Grozny before the crash. Open-source researchers confirmed a drone strike on Chechnya during the same timeframe.
A survivor mentioned that something exploded during the third landing attempt in Grozny, and subsequent footage showed damage consistent with an external explosion. Military analysts and aviation-security experts have suggested that the plane may have been shot down by a Russian air defense system.
While Ukrainian officials have speculated about the possibility of a missile strike, authorities in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia have refrained from commenting until the investigation is complete. The incident has raised concerns about airspace security and the use of drone attacks in the region.
As the investigation unfolds, questions remain about the tragic crash and the circumstances surrounding it. The international community awaits official findings to determine the cause of this devastating event.
