Azerbaijan Airlines Plane Struck by Missile, 38 Killed

A tragic crash involving an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane resulted in the deaths of 38 people, with growing evidence suggesting it was mistakenly struck by a Pantsir-S1 surface-to-air missile launched from Chechnya. The Embraer E190AR was reportedly misidentified as a Ukrainian drone, leading to the missile attack. Survivors described hearing an explosion, and the plane's rear section showed shrapnel damage consistent with a missile strike. In the moments leading up to the crash, the pilot communicated dire messages, including, "I can't execute, control is lost!" as they struggled with multiple failures and attempted to land in Grozny. The aircraft had lost GPS capabilities shortly before the incident, complicating their attempts to reroute. The crash highlights concerns over regional air defense protocols amid ongoing tensions in the area, particularly given Chechnya's history under the leadership of Ramzan Kadyrov, a close ally of Vladimir Putin.