Was the Azerbaijani plane that crashed in Kazakhstan shot down? Striking footage

An Embraer EMBR3.SA passenger plane belonging to Azerbaijan Airlines set off for Chechnya after departing from Baku. However, the plane, which had to make an emergency landing near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan, lost control during the landing and crashed. Of the 72 people on board, 32 managed to survive the accident, and some passengers were able to leave the plane on foot.

Although initial statements suggested that the accident was caused by a flock of birds, subsequent footage and videos taken by passengers before the plane crashed have strengthened the belief that the plane may have been hit by an air defense weapon.

STRIKING HOLES AND TRACES IN THE WRECKAGE

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated that many videos were found during the investigation into the accident and that the exact cause of the crash has not yet been determined. Furthermore, it was announced that Azerbaijan Airlines has canceled its flights to Chechnya following the accident. It was reported that this cancellation is related to the investigation of the crash.

According to the report in Sözcü, examinations of the wreckage revealed large holes in the tail wing of the plane. It is believed that these holes were caused by the mid-air explosion of air defense ammunition affecting a wide area, and that these marks resemble those left by such munitions. However, experts note that such marks might be too small for a targeted aircraft.

TRACES OVERLAP WITH UKRAINIAN UAV ATTACKS AND AIR DEFENSE WEAPONS

On the day the incident occurred, the Ukrainian army had launched large-scale unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attacks in retaliation against Russia. It is known that some of these UAVs resemble small aircraft. Additionally, it was stated that Ukrainian UAVs were shot down by air defense systems and that this footage was broadcast on Chechen and Russian television.

There is information that air defense ammunition used to destroy UAVs hits a wide area with small fragments that can disperse in the air. The marks left by this ammunition overlap with the holes in the plane's wing.

PASSENGER VIDEOS INDICATE THE PLANE MAY HAVE BEEN SHOT

Videos taken by passengers while the plane was still in the air became another piece of evidence strengthening the possibility that the plane may have been shot. In one video, large holes in the fuselage of the plane are clearly visible, while the holes on the right and left sides of the plane correspond with other damage on the aircraft.

One of the passengers who survived the accident stated that they heard explosion sounds inside the plane and that shrapnel passed through their body. Another passenger showed bloodstains under their seat, stating that shrapnel had hit them. In the videos shared by Russia Today, a large hole is visible in a life vest inside the plane.

THE SILENCE OF AUTHORITIES RAISES QUESTIONS

Following these developments, while no statement has been made by Russian or Chechen authorities, the fact that Azerbaijan Airlines has canceled its flights to Chechnya suggests that the crash may not have been just an accident, but a much more complex event.