An aviation disaster occurred in Kazakhstan, claiming the lives of at least 38 individuals.
According to The Wall Street Journal, there were 67 people on board, with 29 surviving, including two children. Most passengers sustained serious injuries, and 11 of them are in a stable but critical condition.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the aircraft may have been struck by a Russian air defense system. As noted by Osprey Flight Solutions, an analysis of video footage from the scene and the aircraft's damage indicates that it may have been hit by anti-aircraft fire.
Characteristic damage was also found on the tail section of the aircraft, typically resulting from missile attacks. Observations of the surrounding airspace indicate that there has been repeated activity from Russian air defenses in the area, particularly in relation to attacks by Ukrainian drones.
Twenty-five minutes before the scheduled landing in Grozny, the crew reported the need for an emergency landing in Aktau. However, half an hour later, the plane crashed in a field near the airport. The Flightradar24 system reported that there was significant GPS signal jamming in the area, which may have complicated the flight.
Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are investigating the tragedy, considering various scenarios, including the possibility of a bird strike, which is deemed unlikely. The threat to civilian flights in the region has increased, prompting Azerbaijan Airlines to temporarily suspend flights to Grozny and Makhachkala.
Source: wsj.