An Azerbaijan Airlines flight carrying 67 passengers crashed off the coast of the Caspian Sea on December 25, killing 38 people. The Embraer 190 jet was en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, but diverted due to heavy fog and attempted an emergency landing near Aktau, Kazakhstan. Azerbaijani authorities initially attributed the crash to poor weather conditions and a possible bird strike, but new claims suggest it was shot down by a Russian air defense system.
According to sources cited by Reuters, the plane may have been mistaken for a threat after diverting into an area where Russia has recently deployed air defenses against Ukrainian drones. Russia’s aviation officials deny these allegations, maintaining that the crash resulted from weather and technical issues.
Azerbaijan Airlines has since suspended flights between Baku and Grozny, pending a full investigation. NATO has called for transparency, with spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah urging a thorough inquiry to determine the cause of the tragedy. The airline has expressed condolences, changing its social media banners to black in mourning.
The incident has drawn international attention, with officials and aviation experts calling for greater clarity. As the investigation unfolds, the crash raises serious questions about safety and accountability in conflict-affected regions.
