A devastating plane crash in Kazakhstan on Wednesday has left 38 people dead and raised more questions than answers. The Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer passenger jet was on a scheduled flight from Baku to Grozny when it diverted and crashed near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan.

Sources close to the investigation have revealed that the plane may have been downed by a Russian air defence system. This shocking claim has sparked widespread concern and raised tensions in the region.

The flight’s diversion from its scheduled route has been attributed to an emergency that may have been caused by a bird strike, according to Russian aviation authorities. However, officials have not explained why the plane crossed the Caspian Sea, landing on the opposite shore.

The crash comes on the heels of Ukrainian drone strikes in the Chechnya region of southern Russia. The nearest Russian airport on the plane’s flight path was closed on Wednesday morning, fueling speculation about the circumstances surrounding the crash.

As investigations continue, Russian, Azerbaijani, and Kazakhstani officials have all called for a thorough probe into the incident. The international community is watching closely, eager for answers about the tragic events that unfolded on Wednesday.

Credit: Reuters