Azerbaijani and U.S. officials suggest plane that crashed may have been hit by weapons fire

A U.S. official said on Friday (December 27, 2024) that Russian air defense systems might have brought down an Azerbaijani airliner this week. This statement came after an Azerbaijani minister suggested that the plane was hit by a weapon, based on expert analysis and survivor accounts.

Rashan Nabiyev and White House national security spokesman John Kirby’s assessments on Friday (December 27, 2024) aligned with those of outside aviation experts who attributed the crash to Russian air defense systems reacting to a Ukrainian attack. This put pressure on Russia, where officials mentioned a drone attack in the region where the Azerbaijan Airlines flight was headed. However, they did not address accusations regarding air defenses.

Kirby stated to reporters that there were early indications pointing to the possibility of Russian air defense systems bringing down the jet. He refrained from providing further details, citing an ongoing investigation.

Mr. Nabiyev, Azerbaijan’s Minister of digital development and transportation, indicated that preliminary conclusions by experts and witness testimonies suggested external impact as the cause of the crash.

Passengers and crew who survived the crash reported hearing loud noises on the aircraft before it went down.

A drone view shows emergency specialists working at the crash site of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane near the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan December 25, 2024. | Photo Credit: Reuters

The plane was en route from Baku to Grozny when it crashed while attempting to land in Kazakhstan. The crash resulted in 38 fatalities and 29 injuries among the survivors.

Flight attendant Aydan Rahimli and crew member Zulfugar Asadov recounted hearing noises and witnessing impacts on the plane before the crash.

Officials from Russia and Azerbaijan are conducting investigations into the incident, with Azerbaijan Airlines suspending flights to several Russian airports in the meantime.

If Russian air defenses are found responsible for the downing of the plane, it would be the second aviation accident linked to conflict in Ukraine.