Russian air defenses likely brought down Azerbaijan plane, experts say

Embraer 190 was en route to the Russian city of Grozny when it was diverted

Wreckage lies near the airport of Aktau, Kazakhstan, on Dec. 25. An independent Russian military expert says images of the tail reveal damage compatible with shrapnel from small surface-to-air missiles. (The Administration of Mangystau Region via AP)

December 27, 2024 15:18 JST

(AP) -- Aviation experts said Thursday that Russian air defense fire was likely responsible for the Azerbaijani plane crash the day before that killed 38 people and left all 29 survivors injured.

Azerbaijan Airlines' Embraer 190 was en route from Azerbaijan's capital of Baku to the Russian city of Grozny in the North Caucasus on Wednesday when it was diverted for reasons still unclear and crashed while making an attempt to land in Aktau in Kazakhstan after flying east across the Caspian Sea.