Crashed Azerbaijani Aircraft Reportedly Blindsided by Russian Electronic Warfare

Azerbaijani aircraft communication systems were completely paralyzed due to Russian electronic warfare (EW) systems, leaving it effectively blind and causing it to disappear from radar over Russian airspace, according to Azerbaijani media Caliber on December 26.

Monitoring of the aircraft was only re-established over the Caspian Sea.

Additionally, Russia was required to close its airspace to civilian aircraft over Chechnya during a reported drone attack on the region but failed to implement the measure.

After Grozny airport refused the plane’s landing request, subsequent attempts to secure clearance at airports in Makhachkala and Mineralnye Vody were also denied, leaving the disoriented crew with limited options. The aircraft was ultimately redirected to Aktau, Kazakhstan.

“It’s possible this was done with one goal in mind: to ensure the plane would crash into the Caspian Sea, killing all witnesses and sinking the aircraft,” Caliber suggested.

Earlier, the Azerbaijani government confirmed that the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash in Aktau on Wednesday was caused by a Russian surface-to-air missile.