Official investigation results released by Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan authorities

White House Suggests Russian Air Defenses May Have Downed Azerbaijan Flight, Killing 38 on December 25

Dec 28, 2024, 03:23 AM

The White House has indicated that early signs suggest Russian air defense systems may have been responsible for the downing of Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243 on December 25, which resulted in the deaths of 38 out of the 67 passengers on board, with 29 survivors. The Embraer 190 plane, en route from Baku to Grozny, crashed near Aktau in Kazakhstan. U.S. officials, including White House National Security spokesman John Kirby, have noted these preliminary indications but have refrained from providing further details, citing an ongoing investigation being conducted jointly by Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani Transport Minister Rashad Nabiyev confirmed that the plane experienced an external impact before the crash, though the specific weapon involved has yet to be determined. The incident occurred amidst reports of Ukrainian drone attacks in the region, with Russian authorities stating that the airspace around Grozny was closed due to these attacks. The Kremlin has declined to comment on the crash until the investigation concludes.