Aircraft Accident Near Aktau, Kazakhstan: Audio Emerges of Russian Person Giving Shooting Instructions - Pictorial and Video Evidence
A controversy has arisen over the cause of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash near Aktau, Kazakhstan on 25 December 2024, with Azerbaijani sources alleging that the incident was the result of a missile strike from a Russian Pantsir-S air defense system.
According to reports, Azerbaijani journalists have released an audio recording of a male voice giving coordinates and commands, including "Fire! I said fire!", an explosion, and "Again! One more time!". The audio recording also contains a report that the target was missed, which is corroborated by a message reportedly issued by the BM-72V6 central computer system at 08:13:47 that the target had been missed.
Furthermore, Minval Politika published a photo of a letter that reportedly contains an explanatory note from air defense system commander Dmitry Paladychuk. In the letter, Paladychuk claims that he received orders to destroy a target later identified as the Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 flight J28243. The letter contains a sequence of events, including specific times when the command to fire and the launch of a missile occurred.
The crash resulted in the death of 38 people, and the authenticity of the letter and the audio recordings is not yet verified, but the information they contain corresponds closely. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has stated that the plane had been shot down from the ground, and Russia should acknowledge its responsibility.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing, with multinational teams analyzing the black box data to clarify the circumstances. Authorities from Brazil, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia are involved in this comprehensive inquiry. Kazakhstan's Ministry of Transport has also released a report containing preliminary findings on the crash, revealing multiple puncture and non-puncture damages across the aircraft's tail section, vertical stabiliser, horizontal stabilisers, and rudders.
Rashad Nabiyev, Azerbaijan's Minister of Digital Development and Transport, has mentioned that eyewitness testimonies and puncture marks on the plane's fuselage indicate external interference. The journalists who released the audio recording received an anonymous letter containing materials about the aircraft that was shot down while approaching the Russian city of Grozny.
Despite President Vladimir Putin offering condolences, Russian officials have denied direct responsibility for the incident. The controversy has played a role in the worsening of Russia-Azerbaijan relations since the crash. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has accused Russian agencies of suppressing evidence and spreading misleading versions about the crash.
As investigations continue, the international community awaits the results to determine the true cause of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash near Aktau, Kazakhstan on 25 December 2024.
- The controversy surrounding the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash near Aktau, Kazakhstan on 25 December 2024 has implications for politics and general news, as Azerbaijani sources claim the incident was a missile strike from a Russian Pantsir-S air defense system.
- The financial industry, along with the transportation and aviation sectors, is closely monitoring the investigation, as the crash resulted in the death of 38 people and has potentially significant consequences for relations between Russia and Azerbaijan.
- Crime and justice is also a factor, as Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has accused Russian agencies of suppressing evidence and spreading misleading versions about the crash, raising questions about war-and-conflicts and international law.
- The industry is following the progress of multi-national teams analyzing the black box data and preliminary reports, which detail multiple puncture and non-puncture damages across the aircraft's tail section, vertical stabiliser, horizontal stabilisers, and rudders.
- General news and social media outlets are reporting on the release of an audio recording and a letter allegedly containing orders to destroy the Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 flight J28243, adding fuel to the ongoing controversy.
