Did Russian Pantsir Missile Accidentally Hit Azeri Passenger Plane that Killed 38?

Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8432, an Embraer 190, crashed in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, killing 38, with a Russian Pantsir surface-to-air missile suspected of bringing down the aircraft.

Azerbaijani government sources confirmed to Euronews that a missile detonated near the plane mid-flight during a Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian region of Chechnya. The shrapnel from the blast hit the plane, causing it to lose control and crash after being diverted to Aktau in Kazakhstan.

Reports indicate that the plane was originally en route to Grozny, Russia, but was rerouted across the Caspian Sea after encountering dense fog. Despite the pilot’s requests for an emergency landing, Russian authorities denied permission for the plane to land on Russian soil and instead directed it toward Aktau. During the flight, Russia reportedly used electronic warfare systems to jam the plane’s GPS, further complicating the situation.

Preliminary investigations by Azerbaijani officials suggest that the damage to the plane was consistent with an impact from a Russian Pantsir-S air defense missile, Baku-based international outlet AnewZ reported, citing Azerbaijani government sources.

Some experts have questioned why Russia allowed the plane to continue its flight, given the active military operations in the region. Aviation analysts pointed out that such damage is typically not caused by bird strikes, as initially suggested by Russian state-controlled media.

The head of the Security Council of the Chechen Republic, Khamzat Kadyrov, confirmed that a drone attack on Grozny took place on Wednesday morning, noting that there were no casualties or damage.

Despite early indications pointing to Russia’s role, the Russian government has refrained from acknowledging responsibility, calling for patience until the official investigation concludes.

Azerbaijan's government has also indicated it expects an apology from Russia if missile involvement is confirmed. The plane was carrying 67 people, including Azerbaijani, Russian, Kazakh, and Kyrgyz nationals. Twenty-nine people survived, with some seen crawling from the wreckage in distressing footage after the crash.

If this preliminary data is confirmed, it would mark the second time in a decade that Russian forces have been implicated in the destruction of a commercial aircraft, following the MH17 crash in Ukraine. This time, the casualties include Russian citizens as well as individuals from neighboring countries.