Did Russian air defence down the Azerbaijani plane in Kazakhstan?
Al Jazeera
Holes and pockmarks on the plane, an arrest and history are all prompting suspicion of Russia for a crash that left 38 people dead.
Kyiv, Ukraine – Russian air defence officials could very possibly have struck an Azerbaijani passenger jet over Chechnya after panicking during a Ukrainian drone attack, analysts and experts from Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan have told Al Jazeera.
Moscow might have also compounded what one expert described as a “crime” by not letting the damaged plane land nearby and instead forcing it to fly to Kazakhstan.
The analysis by these experts comes amid mounting reports quoting unnamed Azerbaijani officials and other analysts pointing fingers at Russia for the crash, in which at least 38 people were killed.
The Kremlin claimed that the AZAL 8432 flight with 67 passengers on board hit a flock of birds early Wednesday after it entered Russian airspace to land in Grozny, Chechnya’s administrative capital.
But within hours, photos and videos of the plane surfaced, apparently showing deep holes and multiple pockmarks on its tail.
