White House Gives Reason Why it Believes Russia Might Have Shot Down the Azerbaijani Plane on 25 December

In a recent press briefing, White House spokesman John Kirby revealed that the United States believes Russia might have shot down the Azeri plane on December 25, which resulted in the tragic loss of 38 lives. According to John Kirby, the US belief was because of the preliminary indications they obtained. While Mr. Kirby refrained from providing detailed specifics, he mentioned that the US had extended its support to aid the ongoing investigation into the incident.

The ill-fated aircraft reportedly encountered hostile fire from Russian air defense systems while attempting to land in Chechnya. This forced a diversion across the Caspian Sea to Kazakhstan, where the plane ultimately crashed. The Kremlin has yet to issue an official comment, but Alexander Neradko, head of Russia's civil aviation agency, described the situation in Chechnya as "very complicated," attributing this complexity to recent Ukrainian drone strikes in the region.

According to Mr. Kirby, the US assessment goes beyond the widely shared images of the damaged plane. Citing a report from the Washington Post, it is suggested that the aircraft's GPS systems were possibly disrupted by electronic jamming. Aviation experts in Azerbaijan support this theory, believing that shrapnel from a Russian missile caused significant damage to the plane.

Despite these theories, Azerbaijan has not formally accused Russia of involvement. However, Azerbaijan's Transport Minister, Rashad Nabiyev, acknowledged that the aircraft was subjected to "external interference" and suffered damage both internally and externally while attempting to land. Survivors reportedly heard three distinct blast sounds as the plane flew over Grozny, the capital of Chechnya. This has led investigators to focus on identifying the type of weapon or missile involved in the incident.

Several accounts from survivors and officials have provided insights into the harrowing moments leading up to the crash. Flight attendant Zulfuqar Asadov recounted how the plane was hit by an "external strike" over Chechnya, causing panic among the passengers. The pilots, who ultimately perished in the crash, managed to save 29 lives by skillfully landing part of the aircraft.

In a more direct accusation, pro-government MP Rasim Musabekov claimed that the plane was shot down over Russian territory. He criticized the decision to divert the plane across the Caspian Sea rather than directing it to a nearby airport for an emergency landing.

The Kremlin has maintained a cautious stance, refraining from commenting on the growing reports implicating Russian air defense. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized that an investigation is underway and that it would be premature to make any judgments before the investigation's conclusion.

Meanwhile, Kazakh authorities have been actively treating the injured and collaborating with Azerbaijan on the investigation. There have been suggestions from Baku that both Russia and Kazakhstan have proposed involving a committee from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to investigate the crash. However, Azerbaijan has insisted on an international inquiry to ensure impartiality.