Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashed on December 25, 2024, killing 38 people. The Embraer jet, mistaken for a Ukrainian drone, was struck by a Russian air defense missile. Despite communication with air traffic control, the aircraft struggled to land before crashing near Kazakhstan. The incident raises concerns about military air defense accuracy.
On December 25, 2024, an Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer jet crashed, killing 38 people. Evidence suggests the aircraft was mistakenly targeted by a Russian missile. The plane, which had been attempting to land in Grozny, Chechnya, was struck by a Pantsir-S1 surface-to-air missile, likely fired from the Naursky district in Chechnya.
The crash occurred after the plane experienced significant technical difficulties, including control failure and a possible bird strike, as reported by the crew in communication with air traffic control. Despite efforts to return to the airport or divert to other airfields, the plane could not maintain control and ultimately crashed near Kazakhstan.
Surviving passengers reported hearing an explosion outside the plane, which was consistent with a missile strike, while shrapnel damage on the aircraft's fuselage was observed. The Russian Telegram channel VChK-OGPU has suggested that Chechen forces loyal to Ramzan Kadyrov may have launched the missile, mistakenly targeting the aircraft. The plane had been involved in multiple diversion attempts, and while the crew initially believed a bird strike caused the incident, the damage suggested otherwise.
Investigations are ongoing, and both Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan have been excluded from the probe, with Kazakhstan refusing to allow Russian involvement. The tragedy has raised concerns about the safety of civilian aircraft operating in regions with active military air defenses, highlighting the risks of misidentification in conflict zones.
