The plane of Azerbaijan Airlineswhich covered the route between Baku y Terriblewas hit by a surface-to-air missile on December 25, which caused an emergency landing near the city of Aktauin Kazakhstan. According to preliminary reports, the attack would have been carried out by a Russian air defense system, which unleashed a tragedy that left 38 people dead and 29 survivors, many of them in critical condition. The incident has generated diplomatic tensions and multiple investigations by the authorities of Azerbaijan y Kazakhstanwhile Russia denies any direct responsibility for the demolition.
According to Euronewsthe plane, a Embraer E190AR with registration 4K-AZ65, was hit by a missile fired from the system Pantsir-S in the Naursky district, in the region Chechnyawhile flying over the airspace near the Caspian Sea. The crew initially believed the impact had been caused by a flock of birds, but subsequent evidence pointed to a mistaken attack by Russian defenses. After the impact, the pilot, identified as Alexander Kalyaninovrequested to make an emergency landing at nearby Russian airports, but authorities repeatedly denied him permission, according to reports. The Azeri Times.
According to the report released, the Russian authorities denied permission for the plane to land on its territory after it was attacked with a missile. This act caused the aircraft to face critical conditions.
The pilot, recognized for his efforts in trying to save lives, had to deal with directed navigation interference that forced the plane to fly over maritime areas, further complicating its control. All this occurred after the impact caused by the missile, which left the aircraft in a vulnerable state. Despite the pilot’s attempts to minimize the risk, the plane ended up crashing.
The media also detailed that the plane faced “extreme GPS blockages” that paralyzed its navigation and communication systems, forcing the pilot to divert the aircraft towards Kazakhstan. During the trip, the plane stopped transmitting position data at several intervals, according to records from Flightradar24which further complicated the situation. Finally, the plane managed to make an emergency landing about three kilometers from Aktau, an important oil and gas center on the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea, but burst into flames upon touching down, leaving a devastating result.
Images from the crash site show scenes of chaos and despair. Rescuers found most of the survivors in the rear of the plane, while the front section was completely destroyed by fire. According to reports, at least 22 of the 29 survivors are receiving medical treatment, and seven of them are in serious condition. Among the fatalities, at least ten people were ejected from the cabin due to the impact. Video captured at the scene shows the moment the plane broke into several sections and a plume of black smoke rose from the wreckage.
The government of Kazakhstan has announced the creation of a commission to investigate the causes of the accident and has assured that it will cooperate with Azerbaijan in the process. However, it has not committed to collaborating with Russia, reflecting tensions around the incident. For their part, Azerbaijani authorities have also launched their own investigation. A source close to the case told Reuters that, although Russia is not accused of having acted intentionally, Moscow is expected to admit responsibility for the downing of the plane.
The president of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyevdeclared a day of national mourning in honor of the victims. Flags were flown at half-mast, traffic stopped at noon and a minute of silence was observed across the country. Meanwhile, the Russian president, Vladimir Putinexpressed his condolences to Aliyev in a phone call, according to the Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov. In a statement, Putin deeply regretted the loss of life and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
The accident has generated a wave of solidarity in Aktau, where residents have been called to donate blood for survivors. Local authorities have assured that the families of the victims will receive the necessary support. However, the incident has also highlighted geopolitical tensions in the region. Grozny, the original destination of the flight, is the capital of Chechnyaa Russian republic ruled by Ramzan Kadyrova close ally of Putin who has sent troops to support the war in Ukraine. This context has fueled speculation about the circumstances of the attack and the possible motivations behind it.
For now, Russia has asked for patience while the investigation is underway and has tried to downplay accusations that the plane was deliberately shot down. However, statements from Azerbaijani and Kazakh authorities suggest that the case could have significant diplomatic implications. The tragedy has not only left a deep mark on the families of the victims, but has also raised serious questions about air safety in a region marked by conflict and political tensions.
