An Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashed in Kazakhstan after diverting from southern Russia, where Russian air defenses are frequently deployed against Ukrainian drones. Witnesses onboard reported hearing at least one loud explosion before the crash.
The accident resulted in at least 38 deaths and 29 survivors. Passengers described losing cabin pressure and the plane behaving erratically after the explosion. A crew member confirmed multiple external explosions.
Azerbaijan Airlines suspects "external interference" and has suspended flights to Russia. Four sources suggested Russian air defenses may have mistakenly struck the plane. The Russian government stressed the importance of awaiting an official investigation to determine the cause.
quote from Reuters
