Azerbaijan confirms Russian missile downed passenger plane, 38 dead

A report has emerged indicating that an Azerbaijani passenger plane, which crashed on December 25 in Kazakhstan, was struck by a Russian Pantsir-S missile, leading to the death of 38 people. Azerbaijani officials claim to have a missile fragment as evidence, marking the first instance of the Baku government asserting physical proof of Russian involvement. Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed regret over the incident but stopped short of accepting responsibility or confirming the missile strike. The preliminary investigation highlights that the aircraft suffered significant external damage, with holes in the fuselage, but does not assign blame. Eyewitness accounts from survivors indicated they heard loud noises before the crash, raising concerns about air safety protocols during conflicts. Calls for a thorough investigation into the incident have been made amid ongoing tensions between Azerbaijan and Russia.