An Azerbaijan Airlines flight en route from Baku to Grozny, the regional capital of Russia’s Chechnya republic, tragically crashed on Wednesday, killing 38 people and leaving 29 survivors. The aircraft, which was attempting to land, deviated from its original flight path, veering toward Kazakhstan before crashing. While the official investigation is still ongoing, survivors reported hearing three loud explosions, which they believed came from outside the plane as it flew over Grozny.
The Kremlin extended condolences, with President Vladimir Putin expressing his “deep and sincere” sympathies to the victims’ families. However, the circumstances surrounding the crash remain unclear. According to Azerbaijan’s Minister of Digital Development and Transport, Rashad Nabiyev, authorities are investigating the possibility that a weapon caused the incident. The investigation has focused on the use of air defence systems, as officials confirmed that systems were active near Grozny due to a Ukrainian drone strike on the same day. However, it has not been confirmed whether these air defence systems were responsible for downing the aircraft.
I spoke to @presidentaz Ilham Aliyev and expressed condolences to him and the people of Azerbaijan regarding the tragic crash of flight J2-8243 of Azerbaijan Airlines. We acknowledged the heroism of the pilots and the entire crew of the aircraft.
The key priority now is a… pic.twitter.com/s4DAgXdEaK
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) December 28, 2024
In response to the incident, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for a clear explanation from Russia. Zelenskyy stated on social media that the visible damage to the plane’s fuselage, including punctures and dents, suggested the aircraft had been struck by a surface-to-air missile. A subsequent report from Azerbaijani government sources on Thursday indicated that an initial probe suggested a Russian missile had indeed been fired at the plane as it flew over Chechnya.
While the official investigation continues, the tragic crash has sparked widespread attention, with Ukraine demanding transparency and clarity from Russian authorities. The incident highlights growing concerns over the safety of civilian air traffic in regions with active military operations.
