Azerbaijani and US officials suspect a Russian surface-to-air missile downed an Azerbaijani passenger plane, resulting in fatalities. Media reports and a US official revealed this information Thursday. The Kremlin urged caution against forming conclusions about the crash, stating, “hypotheses” should be avoided. The exact location and time of the crash remain undisclosed in the initial reports. Further details about the number of casualties and the type of passenger jet involved are also unavailable at this time.
An Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 passenger jet crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on Wednesday, killing 38 of the 67 people on board. The plane, en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, veered significantly off course over the Caspian Sea before crashing.
Azerbaijani and US officials suspect a Russian surface-to-air missile caused the fatal crash of an Azerbaijani passenger plane. Media reports and a US official confirmed the findings on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Kremlin advised caution and urged against jumping to conclusions regarding the disaster, emphasizing the need for a thorough investigation.
While the cause of the crash is under investigation, several media outlets including The New York Times, Euronews, and Anadolu, along with Azerbaijani website Caliber, citing unnamed officials, report a possible strike by a Russian surface-to-air missile.
A US official, speaking anonymously, also indicated early signs point to a Russian anti-aircraft system. Some experts suggest the plane might have been mistakenly targeted due to reported Ukrainian drone activity in the area. A former expert at France’s BEA air accident investigation agency noted the wreckage showed damage “reminiscent” of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, which was downed by a missile in 2014.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov cautioned against speculation, stating, “It would be wrong to make any hypotheses before the investigation’s conclusions.” Two flight recorders have been recovered. Euronews, citing Azerbaijani government sources, reported that “shrapnel hit the passengers and cabin crew as it exploded next to the aircraft mid-flight.”
Azerbaijan Airlines initially attributed the crash to a bird strike but later retracted the statement. Kazakh officials confirmed 29 survivors, including three children. Eleven survivors are in intensive care.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev declared Thursday a day of mourning and cancelled a trip to Russia. He offered condolences to the families of the victims and wished the injured a speedy recovery. Among the victims was flight attendant Hokume Aliyeva. Her father, Jalil Aliyev, said this was to be her last flight before starting a new job. “Why did her young life have to end so tragically?” he asked.
The plane carried 37 Azerbaijani passengers, six Kazakhs, three Kyrgyz, and 16 Russians. Witnesses near the crash site described a scene of chaos and suffering as they helped bloodied survivors. One witness, Elmira, told RFE/RL, “They were covered in blood. They were crying. They were calling for help.” She added, “I’ll never forget their look, full of pain and despair. A girl pleaded: ‘Save my mother, my mother is back there’.” Russian President Vladimir Putin offered condolences to President Aliyev.
