What's happened
Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243 crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on December 25, 2024, killing at least 38 people. The plane, en route from Baku to Grozny, was diverted due to fog and reportedly experienced an emergency landing attempt. Investigations are ongoing into potential causes, including a bird strike and possible missile fire.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Axios, the crash of Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243 has drawn parallels to the Malaysia Airlines MH17 incident, with aviation analysts suggesting that a Russian missile may have been involved. The Independent reported that the Kremlin has urged caution against speculation before the investigation concludes, while Kazakh authorities confirmed the recovery of the flight's black box. BBC News highlighted that preliminary findings indicated a bird strike, but experts like Justin Crump from Sibylline noted the damage pattern suggests a missile detonation. The Moscow Times reported that GPS jamming may have affected the flight's tracking, raising further questions about the circumstances leading to the crash.
How we got here
The crash occurred as the Embraer 190 aircraft was diverted from its original route due to worsening weather conditions in Grozny. Initial reports suggested a bird strike led to the emergency landing attempt, but further analysis raised concerns about potential missile involvement amid ongoing regional tensions.
Common question
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What Happened During the Plane Crash Near Aktau?
On December 25, 2024, an Embraer 190 operated by Azerbaijan Airlines crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, leaving a mix of survivors and tragic circumstances. As investigations unfold, many are left wondering about the details of the crash, the survivors, and the ongoing inquiries into its causes. Below are some frequently asked questions that shed light on this incident.
More on these topics
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Kazakhstan, officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country mainly located in Central Asia with a smaller portion west of the Ural in Eastern Europe.
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Aktau is a city in Kazakhstan, located on the Eastern shore of the Caspian Sea. Its current name means "white mountain" in Kazakh, which may be due to its cliffs that overlook the Caspian. From 1964 to 1991, the city was known as Shevchenko.
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Azerbaijan Airlines, also known as AZAL, is the flag carrier and largest airline of the country of Azerbaijan. Based in Baku, adjacent to Heydar Aliyev International Airport, the carrier operates to destinations across Asia, the CIS, and Europe.
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Dmitry Sergeyevich Peskov is a Russian diplomat, translator and Turkologist. Since 2012, Peskov has been the Press Secretary for the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin.
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Chechnya, officially the Chechen Republic, is a federal subject of the Russian Federation.
It is located in the North Caucasus, and within 100 kilometres of the Caspian Sea. The capital of the republic is the city of Grozny.
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Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, A
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Ramzan Akhmadovich Kadyrov is the Head of the Chechen Republic and a former member of the Chechen independence movement.
He is the son of former Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov, who was assassinated in May 2004.
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Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who has served as President of Russia since 2012, previously holding the position from 1999 until 2008.