On December 25, 2024, Azerbaijan Airlines Flight J2-8243 crashed in Kazakhstan, killing 38 passengers. Survivors report explosions near Grozny, Russia, suggesting a missile strike from Russian air defense. An investigation is underway, with Azerbaijan seeking an international inquiry into the cause of the crash involving 67 passengers.
On December 25, 2024, Azerbaijan Airlines Flight J2-8243 tragically crash-landed in Kazakhstan, killing 38 people. The flight had taken off from Baku, Azerbaijan, with 67 passengers aboard, including nationals from Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
It was en route to Grozny, Russia, but encountered thick fog. Survivors reported explosions hitting the plane on the third landing attempt near Grozny, suggesting it may have been struck by Russian air defense missiles. Russian authorities had closed airspace over Grozny due to previous drone attacks by Ukraine, but it’s unclear if the airspace protocol had been enacted at the time.
After the attack, the plane diverted to Kazakhstan, where it crash-landed, killing 38 and leaving 29 survivors, some seriously injured. Aviation experts suspect electronic jamming and missile shrapnel contributed to the crash, but Russia has denied responsibility, instead offering an apology for the "tragic incident." Azerbaijan's government has requested an international investigation, rejecting a proposed inquiry by Russia and Kazakhstan.
Both countries have suspended flights to certain Russian cities in the wake of the crash. Investigators have found the flight recorders, which may provide further details on the cause.
The downing of the plane remains shrouded in mystery, with ongoing investigations and conflicting reports about the involvement of Russian air defense systems.
