An Azerbaijani Airlines aircraft that crashed while nearing Grozny on Wednesday was reportedly struck by the Russian Pantsir-S air defense system. However, according to sources within the Azerbaijan government, it’s unclear whether this was an intentional act, as indicated by early investigation findings. The plane’s communications system was also disrupted by electronic warfare measures from the Russian side, as reported by ANewz, a Baku-based global news and analysis outlet.

In addition, Reuters has cited four Azerbaijani sources familiar with the inquiry, confirming that the downing of the aircraft was likely caused by a Russian air defense system. The crash occurred on the Baku-Grozny route, and after the communications were jammed, the passenger jet vanished from radar within Russian airspace.

Russian sources indicated that when the plane was flying over Chechnya, Russian defense forces were attempting to shoot down Ukrainian drones. Khamzat Kadyrov, head of the Security Council of the Chechen Republic, acknowledged a drone attack on Grozny on Christmas morning. This prompted Russian authorities to close airspace to civilian aircraft, which they failed to do. As a result, Grozny airport did not authorize the Azerbaijani plane to land, and the flight crew was advised to divert to Aktau after being denied permission to land at airports in Makhachkala and Mineralnye Vody.

“Baku expects the Russian side to confess to the shooting down of the Azerbaijani aircraft, and to conduct a full investigation, which will result in bringing to justice all those responsible,” ANewz reported. Ukrainian officials and aviation experts believe that Russian anti-aircraft fire likely caused the fatal crash of the Azerbaijani airliner on Christmas Day, which killed 38 people. However, a Russian official has cautioned against making such conclusions while the investigation is still underway.

The passenger jet, with 67 people on board, crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau after diverting its course over an area where Russian air defenses were engaged in combat with Ukrainian drones, according to The Wall Street Journal. The aircraft, which had 62 passengers and five crew members, turned around and flew eastward over the Caspian Sea. Osprey Flight Solutions, based on the damage to the plane, military activity in the region, and crash footage, suggested that the jet was “likely shot down by a Russian military air defense system.”

“Video of the wreckage and the circumstances around the airspace security environment in southwest Russia indicates the possibility the aircraft was hit by some form of antiaircraft fire,” commented Osprey’s chief intelligence officer, Matt Borie. Osprey provides analysis to airlines still flying to Russia after Western carriers suspended flights due to the ongoing conflict. “This incident is a stark reminder of why we do what we do,” said Osprey CEO Andrew Nicholson in an online statement, as reported by The Associated Press.

The company had previously issued over 200 alerts regarding drone attacks and Russian air defense activity. “It is painful to know that despite our efforts, lives were lost in a way that could have been avoided,” said Nicholson. Ukrainian national security official Andriy Kovalenko also posted on X, stating that the Russians had downed the plane. “Russia should have closed the airspace over Grozny but failed to do so,” Kovalenko said. “The plane was damaged by the Russians and was sent to Kazakhstan instead of being urgently landed in Grozny to save lives.”

Speculation surrounding the cause of the crash has intensified, with some commentators suggesting that holes seen in the plane’s tail section might indicate it had been struck by Russian air defense systems during their efforts to fend off a Ukrainian drone attack. Grozny had previously been targeted by Ukrainian drones. The city, located in the Russian republic of Chechnya, was reportedly hit by drones on Wednesday, though this report has not been officially confirmed by Russian authorities.

Azerbaijan Airlines stated that the Embraer 190 passenger jet might have collided with a flock of birds. The airline’s president mentioned that the plane was rerouted due to adverse weather conditions, and that an investigation is ongoing. Officials confirmed that the jet’s black box has been recovered.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov asserted that it would be premature to make any assumptions before the investigation reaches a conclusion. Maulen Ashimbayev, Kazakhstan’s Senate speaker, also warned against drawing hasty conclusions, according to Turkish state media Anadolu Agency. “These are speculations and unfounded statements, and it’s wrong to spread such statements,” Ashimbayev said. “It’s unethical, and it’s an indicator that certain people want to earn certain dividends for themselves in this situation.”

{Matzav.com}