Damage by Missile Fragments Found On External Fuselage of Crashed Azerbaijan Aircraft

An Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer ERJ-190, en route from Baku to Grozny, crashed in Kazakhstan, with preliminary evidence suggesting missile fragments caused damage to the external fuselage.

The passenger plane declared an emergency at approximately 11:20 local time, initially reporting a bird strike that disrupted the control system. It was diverted from Grozny due to heavy fog and attempted a landing in Aktau, Kazakhstan, after overflying the Caspian Sea.

Passenger video recordings captured the plane's unstable flight, oxygen masks deployed, and visible fuselage damage. Flightradar24 data indicated erratic speed and altitude fluctuations as pilots struggled to stabilize the aircraft. Communication with the aircraft was disrupted near the Chechen Republic, potentially due to electronic warfare interference, and resumed only near Aktau.

Post-crash footage of the wreckage revealed damage resembling that caused by anti-aircraft missile fragments, drawing comparisons to incidents involving military aircraft. Comparing photos of a damaged Il-22PP electronic countermeasure aircraft, hit by an anti-aircraft missile in January 2024, and the passenger ERJ-190, reveals similarities in the damage patterns and the number of holes in the skin, suggesting impact from high-explosive fragments.

Officials reported that 38 passengers lost their lives, while 29 others sustained injuries, including two children. Eleven survivors remain in serious condition.

Authorities from Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have launched a joint investigation to determine the cause of the damage and the subsequent crash.

Further updates will follow as the investigation progresses.