Russian defense fire likely caused Azerbaijan plane crash, experts say

Rescuers transport wounded passengers from a medical plane upon their arrival at the Heydar Aliyev International Airport outside Baku, Azerbaijan, on Dec. 26, 2024, after an Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashed near the Kazakhstani city of Aktau. An Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane crashes near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on Dec. 25, 2024, in this image from video. (Social media via Reuters) Damage in the wreckage of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane that crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on Dec. 25, 2024, is seen in this image from video. (Social media via Reuters)

Aviation experts said Thursday that Russian air defense fire was likely responsible for the Azerbaijani plane crash the day before that killed 38 people and left all 29 survivors injured.