Summary

A U.S. official and Azerbaijani sources claim a Russian anti-aircraft system may have accidentally downed an Azerbaijan Airlines plane on Christmas Day, killing 38 and injuring 29 near Aktau, Kazakhstan.

The Embraer 190 veered off course after potential electronic interference and exhibited damage consistent with shelling or shrapnel, raising suspicion of a Russian Pantsir-S air defense strike.

Russia and Kazakhstan have dismissed early claims as speculative, while Azerbaijan and NATO call for a full investigation. The plane’s black box has been recovered.

Azerbaijan observed a nationwide moment of silence for the victims.

  • @[email protected]
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    fedilink
    81 day ago

    not round enough. more like fragment holes, from a missile. definitely not birdstrike, unless that bird was su-34

    • Shawdow194
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      fedilink
      51 day ago

      Thank you! Meant shrapnel but brain saw holes and went “bullet”