Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8432, carrying 67 passengers from Baku to Grozny, crashed on Wednesday morning in Aktau, Kazakhstan, killing 38 people. The victims included 37 Azerbaijani citizens, six Kazakhstani nationals, three Kyrgyzstani citizens, and 16 Russian nationals.
According to investigation sources, the plane made an emergency landing due to weather conditions, but shortly after touching down, it suffered significant damage from what appeared to be shrapnel hitting the fuselage. The incident has sparked speculation about possible external interference, with some claiming that the aircraft may have been accidentally struck by an air-defence missile system.
Russian military bloggers and Chechen separatist groups have raised concerns about the city of Grozny being a potential target for Ukraine’s drones due to its strategic location and heavy defense. The incident bears resemblance to the 2014 downing of MH17, also attributed to surface-to-air missiles.
The crash has left two children among the survivors in hospital, with all passengers now receiving medical attention. Azerbaijan Airlines has issued an update on the situation, confirming that the plane changed course due to worsening weather conditions and crashed upon landing.
Source: https://www.euronews.com/2024/12/25/bethlehem-marks-a-second-sombre-christmas-mass-as-israels-war-on-hamas-rages-on