An Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet traveling from Baku to Grozny crashed on Christmas Day after being struck by a missile or shrapnel, killing 38 people.

Investigations suggest the plane was hit by Russian antiaircraft fire after being denied landing permissions and targeted with electronic warfare, as the Daily Wire reports.

Flight Tragedy Unfolds Over Caspian Sea

The Azerbaijan Airlines flight, carrying 67 passengers and crew, was en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, when disaster struck.

The crash occurred in western Kazakhstan near the city of Aktau, close to the Caspian Sea. The tragedy left 38 people dead and 29 survivors, many critically injured.

According to aviation experts, the plane showed evidence of munition damage, confirming it had been struck by a missile or its shrapnel. Survivors described hearing an explosion moments before the aircraft began to fail. Subkhonkul Rakhimov, one of the survivors, stated in an interview, “Everyone heard the explosion.”

Russian authorities initially attributed the crash to a collision with birds, but further investigation has revealed more troubling possibilities.

Russian Missile Likely Involved in Crash

Sources involved in the investigation identified a Russian Pantsir-S air defense system as the probable source of the missile. The jet had diverted from its planned course while flying over Russian territory, where military activity was underway. Reports suggest that Russia’s military was actively targeting Ukrainian drones in the area.

Complicating the situation further, the aircraft’s GPS system was reportedly jammed by Russian forces, rendering the pilots unable to navigate properly. Requests from the flight crew to land at nearby Russian airports, including Grozny and Makhachkala, were denied.

Zaur Shiriyev, a nonresident scholar at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, emphasized the impact of these decisions. “Azerbaijan expects not only an apology but also an explanation as to why the pilots’ request to land was denied and why their GPS was jammed,” he said.

Comparisons to Past Aviation Tragedy

This incident has drawn comparisons to the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. In that event, 298 people were killed when Russia-backed separatists shot down a passenger jet over eastern Ukraine. Similarities in the use of antiaircraft weaponry have sparked renewed scrutiny of Russian military protocols.

A U.S. official supported preliminary findings that the Azerbaijan Airlines plane was struck by a Russian missile. This conclusion has heightened calls for accountability from Moscow, though Russian authorities have yet to officially acknowledge responsibility.

Experts have also suggested an alarming possibility: the intentional misdirection of the flight toward the Caspian Sea, where all evidence and witnesses might have been lost. Yaroslav Trofimov of the Wall Street Journal referenced Azerbaijani reports suggesting this could have been a deliberate tactic.

International Pressure Mounts in Russia

Azerbaijan has demanded a transparent investigation into the incident. Officials from the country expressed that while there is no belief the jet was intentionally targeted, there is an expectation for Russia to admit its involvement and provide explanations.

The refusal to grant landing permissions and the jamming of the GPS are key points of contention. These factors, combined with the missile strike, are seen as contributing directly to the loss of life.

Russia has not yet issued a detailed response to these allegations. Its Federal Air Traffic Agency continues to assert that the crash was unrelated to military activity.

Survivors Demand Justice for Victims

The survivors of the crash, alongside grieving families, have called for answers and accountability. Many survivors remain hospitalized with severe injuries, adding to the emotional toll on the victims’ loved ones.

Subkhonkul Rakhimov’s account of the harrowing moments before the crash highlights the chaos onboard. Passengers were left helpless as the plane plummeted to the ground, making survival a matter of chance.

With international focus growing, the incident is likely to have lasting implications for aviation safety and geopolitical relations. As investigations continue, the truth behind the tragic crash may yet come to light.