Azerbaijani officials confirm flight 8432 was hit by Russian missile

Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8432 crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on Wednesday, killing 38 passengers. New reports confirm that the crash was caused by a Russian surface-to-air missile fired at the plane during a drone attack above Grozny, Russia.

Senior Azerbaijani officials confirm claims that Azerbaijan Airlines plane that crashed near Kazakh city of Aktau was targeted by Russian air defense system.

This incident shows the dangers of ongoing military activity in the region, as the missile strike on a civilian aircraft raises serious concerns about the safety of commercial flights.

It also brings attention to Russia's role in the incident, with implications for international aviation security.

Emergency specialists work at the crash site of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet near the western Kazakh city of Aktau on December 25, 2024. (Photo by Issa Tazhenbayev / AFP)Emergency specialists work at the crash site of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet near the western Kazakh city of Aktau on December 25, 2024. (Photo by Issa Tazhenbayev / AFP)

Details

• The missile was fired from a Pantsir-S air defense system during a drone activity over Grozny, hitting the plane mid-flight.
• Despite requests from the pilots for an emergency landing at Russian airports, the aircraft was ordered to continue its flight, heading across the Caspian Sea toward Kazakhstan.
• The plane’s GPS navigation systems were reportedly jammed during the flight.
• Azerbaijan’s government has launched a criminal investigation into the crash, and President Ilham Aliyev has condemned the incident.

In this handout picture released by Kazakhstan's emergency situations ministry, emergency specialists work at the crash site of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet near the western Kazakh city of Aktau on December 25, 2024. (Photo by Handout / Kazakhstan's emergency situations ministry / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / KAZAKHSTAN'S EMERGENCY SITUATIONS MINISTRY / HANDOUT" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTSIn this handout picture released by Kazakhstan's emergency situations ministry, emergency specialists work at the crash site of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet near the western Kazakh city of Aktau on December 25, 2024. (Photo by Handout / Kazakhstan's emergency situations ministry / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / KAZAKHSTAN'S EMERGENCY SITUATIONS MINISTRY / HANDOUT" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

Zoom in

The missile strike occurred as Russian forces were engaged in an attempt to down Ukrainian drones in the region.

No casualties were reported from the drone strike in Grozny, but the incident triggered the missile attack on the commercial flight.

Zoom out

If confirmed, this would mark the second time in a decade that Russian forces have been implicated in the destruction of a commercial aircraft, following the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in 2014.

The incident also reflects the broader risks posed by military conflicts to civilian air traffic, underscoring the need for tighter controls and communication between the military and civilian aviation sectors.

December 26, 2024 06:17 PM GMT+03:00