Azerbaijani Plane Crash Caused by Russian 'Pantsir-S' Missile, Government Source Says

An Azerbaijani passenger plane that crashed on December 25, 2023, near Aktau, Kazakhstan, was hit by a Russian Pantsir-S missile, according to an Azerbaijani government source cited by Reuters on February 4.

The Azerbaijan Airlines aircraft, which had been diverted from its original route over southern Russia, crashed into the Caspian Sea, resulting in the deaths of 38 people. Investigations into the incident are ongoing.

“The Azerbaijani side possesses a fragment of a Pantsir-S missile which was extracted from the aircraft and identified through international expertise,” the source said.

Previously, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev stated that responsibility for the crash of the Embraer 190 passenger plane rests with Russian officials, and Baku is calling for justice and accountability for those involved.