A Russian surface-to-air missile caused the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines aircraft near Aktau, Kazakhstan, government sources in Azerbaijan confirmed to Euronews on Wednesday.
According to the sources, the missile was fired at Flight 8432 during aerial drone activity over Grozny, with shrapnel striking passengers and crew as it exploded near the aircraft mid-flight.
Azerbaijani officials claim Russian authorities denied the damaged plane permission to land at any Russian airport despite pilots’ urgent requests for an emergency landing. The crew was allegedly instructed to continue over the Caspian Sea toward Aktau in Kazakhstan.
Data also indicates the aircraft’s GPS navigation systems were jammed throughout the flight over the sea, further complicating its course.
The crash near Aktau claimed 38 lives, with another 29 passengers rescued, according to official reports.
