Azerbaijan Airlines Plane Crash Kills 38 in Kazakhstan

An Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan on Christmas Day, killing 38 people, while 29 survived, some critically injured. Initial reports suggested a bird strike, but multiple sources indicate the plane may have been shot down by a Russian air defense missile amidst tensions from Ukrainian drone strikes in Chechnya. The aircraft diverted due to poor weather, and there are claims that GPS interference occurred shortly before the crash. Survivors and footage reveal pre-crash damage to the plane, strengthening the theory of a missile strike, similar to the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in 2014. Both Azerbaijan and Russian authorities have initiated investigations, with NATO calling for a thorough inquiry. While official confirmations are pending, Azerbaijani officials have stated that the crash was caused by a Russian missile, which the Kremlin denies.