Russian Air Defense System Downed Azerbaijan Airlines Plane, Sources Confirm

kazakhstan, baku, grozny - Multiple sources, including Reuters, confirm that the Azerbaijan Airlines plane that crashed on Christmas Day, killing 38 passengers, was shot down by a Russian air defense system.

Four different sources confirmed to Reuters that the Azerbaijan Airlines plane that crashed on Christmas Day, killing 38 passengers, was shot down by a Russian air defense system, as reported by various media outlets including Sky News.

The passenger plane, an Embraer 190, was en route from Baku, the Azerbaijani capital, to Grozny, Russia. It suddenly changed course and crashed about three kilometers from Aktau in Kazakhstan.

Earlier reports suggested that 'suspicious holes' in the tail might indicate foul play. Video footage shows the plane making a sharp descent before bursting into flames upon impact.

Unconfirmed reports suggest that Russia was targeting Ukrainian drones at the time of the incident. The nearest Russian airport, in Makhachkala, Dagestan, had been closed due to drone activity earlier that day, according to Al Jazeera.

The Embraer 190 had 67 people on board, mainly Azerbaijanis and Russians. Rescue services managed to save 29 individuals, including two children. Passengers were seen walking away from the wreckage of the tail section in a state of confusion.

The Kremlin has cautioned against speculation regarding the cause of the deadly crash in Kazakhstan and informed that an investigation is ongoing.

Russian aviation authorities initially claimed that a bird strike caused the crash. Azerbaijan Airlines mentioned a bird swarm, but refrained from speculating on the crash's exact cause. Aviation experts are casting doubt on the bird strike theory, pointing to external damage visible in social media images.

Rescuers have recovered the black boxes, which should aid in determining the crash's cause. The bodies of the deceased passengers have also been retrieved. The occupants were from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia.

NATO is calling for a 'full investigation' into the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash. A spokesperson expressed condolences to the victims' families and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.