Russian missile may have hit Azerbaijan plane, says US official

A US official said Thursday that early indications suggest a Russian anti-aircraft system struck an Azerbaijan Airlines plane that crashed in Kazakhstan, killing 38 people – according to an Agence France-Presse (AFP).

The comments by the US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, came after media reports that Azerbaijani authorities believe a Russian surface-to-air missile caused Wednesday's crash of the jet traveling from Baku to Grozny in Chechnya, southern Russia.

Read more: VIDEO: Azerbaijani passenger plane crashes, explodes in Kazakhstan

On Wednesday, December 25, Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243, an Embraer 190 aircraft, crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, resulting in 38 fatalities among the 67 individuals on board.

The flight had departed from Baku, Azerbaijan, en route to Grozny, Russia. Due to dense fog in Grozny, the aircraft was diverted to Makhachkala, Russia, but adverse weather there led to a subsequent diversion to Aktau.

During its flight, the aircraft experienced significant GPS jamming and spoofing near Grozny, a known issue in the region. Survivors reported an explosion and shrapnel hitting the plane, leading to speculation about external interference. Preliminary investigations revealed perforating holes on the tail surfaces, suggesting possible damage from an external source.

The incident prompted Azerbaijan to declare a day of mourning, and both Azerbaijani and Russian authorities have called for thorough investigations. The aircraft's black box has been recovered, and analyses are underway to determine the precise cause of the crash.