Plane Crash in Kazakhstan Resembles 2014 Tragedy Over Ukraine
A plane crash in western Kazakhstan on December 25 has raised concerns about a possible surface-to-air missile strike. The Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer E190AR plane, carrying dozens of people from Baku to Grozny, crashed while trying to land in Aktau.
The crash resulted in the deaths of 38 out of 67 people on board, with 29 others injured and two children among them. Video footage from the scene shows the plane breaking apart mid-air and bursting into flames upon impact.
Experts have noted that the damage to the plane’s fuselage and wings bears a striking resemblance to the wreckage of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17, which was downed by Russian forces over Ukraine in 2014. The French aviation expert said the crash site showed signs of shrapnel damage, similar to the holes found on MH17.
Russian Air Defense Systems Deployed Nearby
On the day of the crash, Russian air defense systems were deployed near Grozny, where the plane was headed, to protect against Ukrainian drones. However, the plane’s request for an emergency landing was denied by Russian airports, directing it instead to Aktau.
Investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing, but experts have suggested that a surface-to-air missile fired from a Russian Pantsir-S air defense system near Grozny could be responsible for the tragedy. This would not be the first incident where a Russian-made missile may have struck a civilian aircraft.
Similarities to MH17 Tragedy
The similarity between the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane and the 2014 downing of MH17 is striking. Fragmentation holes found on the wreckage of MH17 are similar to those observed on the Embraer 190. The Russian-made Buk missile system, used in both incidents, has been integrated into a “structured air defense” network by Russia.
The Kremlin’s denial of involvement in the downing of MH17 has raised suspicions about its role in this and other plane crashes. International investigators have found strong indications that Russian ruler Vladimir Putin approved the use of Buk missile systems before the MH17 disaster.
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