The tragic crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane on December 25, which claimed the lives of 38 people, has raised suspicions of Russian involvement, with the United States providing “early indications” that Russia may be responsible. While Azerbaijan has refrained from directly accusing Russia, the country’s transport minister, Rashad Nabiyev, confirmed that the plane had experienced “external interference” during its final moments.
White House spokesman John Kirby stated that the U.S. had observed indications suggesting that Russian air defense systems could have been involved in the downing of the plane. However, Kirby did not provide further details on the evidence. The U.S. government has offered assistance to the ongoing investigation into the crash, which has drawn international attention.
The incident unfolded when the plane, an Embraer 190, was attempting to land in Grozny, Chechnya. The flight was reportedly diverted across the Caspian Sea to Kazakhstan after coming under fire from Russian air defense systems. The aircraft, which had been affected by electronic jamming, was reportedly damaged by shrapnel from Russian missile blasts. Several survivors, including flight attendants and passengers, recalled hearing multiple explosions as the plane passed over Grozny, further fueling speculation that Russian air defense systems were responsible.
Pro-government Azerbaijani MP Rasim Musabekov insisted that the plane was shot down over Russian territory and described how the pilot had requested an emergency landing in Grozny but was instead directed away from nearby airports and across the Caspian Sea, without GPS guidance. Flight attendant Zulfuqar Asadov, who was injured during the strikes, also confirmed the impact of the “external strike” over Chechnya, causing panic among the passengers.
Despite these accounts, the Kremlin has refrained from commenting on the situation. Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin, emphasized that the investigation was still ongoing and that it was premature to make any conclusions.
Kazakh authorities have been treating the injured passengers and collaborating with Azerbaijan on the investigation. Both Russia and Kazakhstan have proposed a regional investigation through the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), but Azerbaijan has demanded an international inquiry to ensure transparency and impartiality in the process.
As the investigation continues, the international community watches closely to determine the cause of this devastating incident and whether Russia will be held accountable.
