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According to the US and Azerbaijan, preliminary investigations into the crash of Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8432 suggest that the crash, which killed 38, was likely caused by a Russian air defense that targeted the plane.

Some shit you should know before you read: Earlier this week, Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8432, an Embraer 190 aircraft, crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, while en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, the capital of Chechnya. The incident occurred on Wednesday and resulted in the deaths of 38 people, with 33 others surviving but sustaining injuries. After diverting from its intended course, the plane attempted to make an emergency landing.  

What’s going on now: According to a preliminary investigation by Azerbaijan, the crash of Flight 8432 was caused by external interference, with damage to the plane’s exterior indicating it may have been struck from outside. Experts analyzing the wreckage noted significant shrapnel-like damage to the tail section, consistent with an external explosion or projectile impact. Survivors recounted hearing loud noises before the crash, with one flight attendant reporting that oxygen masks deployed automatically after the first loud sound, followed by a second bang.  

In addition, White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters that they have observed “some early indications that would certainly point to the possibility that this jet was brought down by Russian air defense systems.”

Russia responds: In response to accusations that Russian air defense systems could have taken down the plane, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, “It would be wrong to make any hypotheses before the investigation’s conclusions.” Notably, Russia’s civil aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, initially suggested the crash was caused by a bird strike, with its head, Dmitry Yadrov, later adding that Ukrainian drones were conducting attacks near Grozny at the time of the incident, creating a dangerous environment for civilian aircraft operating in the area.