A tragic plane crash near Aktau city in Kazakhstan has claimed the lives of 38 people. New reports suggest that the crash may have been caused by a Russian anti-aircraft system. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, UK-based independent aviation security firm Osprey Flight Solutions had issued an alert, stating that the flight “was likely shot down by a Russian military air-defense system.”
The crash occurred on Wednesday morning near the Caspian Sea when Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243, en route from Baku to Grozny, Russia, deviated from its planned course. The Embraer 190 aircraft, carrying 62 passengers and five crew members, attempted an emergency landing 3 kilometers from Aktau but crashed.
There are differing reports on what caused the plane to divert and attempt an emergency landing. Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev speculated that bad weather might have forced the change in direction but emphasized that it was too early to speculate, with an investigation underway. Russian authorities initially suggested a bird strike might have caused the diversion. However, experts have questioned this theory, as a bird strike alone is unlikely to cause such a dramatic course change.
Ukrainian officials, on the other hand, have blamed Russia, claiming that the plane was shot down by a Russian air defense system. Experts cited in the WSJ report noted that “perforations in the plane’s tail section” suggest a possible missile attack or air defense involvement.
Social media footage verified by news agencies shows the plane descending sharply and bursting into flames upon impact. The crash occurred on the same morning as drone strikes near Chechnya, where Grozny is located. An investigation continues, and the recovered black box may provide more clarity on the incident’s cause.