Squadron's tragic discharge of a plane on Christmas results in the grim loss of 38 lives, as new audio indicates that Russians mistakenly believed it wasn't a Ukrainian drone.
On Christmas Day in 2021, Azerbaijan Airlines Flight J2-8243, an Embraer E190, tragically crashed in Aktau, Kazakhstan, leaving 67 passengers and crew members in mourning. The evidence now suggests that this disaster was not an accident, but a result of a Russian surface-to-air missile strike.
The incident occurred amid reports of Ukrainian drone attacks in the Grozny area, where the plane was believed to have been flying. The Russians claimed that Grozny was under attack from Ukrainian drones at the time the plane was hit. However, the speed of the aircraft, around 265 mph, was more than double the speed of most drones, suggesting it was not a drone that was targeted.
The investigation by the Azerbaijani government found that the plane was indeed shot down. An investigative team, led by the deputy prosecutor general of Azerbaijan, is working at the crash site, where they found the black box of the doomed flight. The black box data revealed that the plane was hit by a Russian Pantsir-S surface-to-air missile defense system.
A chilling voice recording ordering the shooting of the plane was leaked, and it was revealed that Captain Dmitry Paladichuk, a Russian air defense officer, was the voice reporting the coordinates in the recording. Captain Paladichuk later leaked a handwritten testimony revealing he was ordered to shoot down the target.
The evidence also indicates that Russia had knowledge of the object they were targeting. The missile was likely aimed deliberately at the passenger aircraft, implying awareness of what the target was at the time of shooting. This implication is supported by growing information that points to the missile strike rather than an accident or mechanical failure.
The crash occurred after the plane crossed the Caspian Sea and in Grozny, the capital of the region of Chechnya, controlled by a close Putin ally and warlord, Ramzan Kadyrov. Remarkably, dozens of passengers, including children, miraculously survived the crash.
Footage emerged showing distressed passengers making final video calls and leaving messages as the aircraft began to plunge. The Embraer aircraft nosedived before smashing into the ground in a fireball, with the explosion causing shrapnel to hit passengers and cabin crew.
The exchange was leaked to the Azerbaijan outlet Minval amid deeply strained relations between Moscow and Baku. The pilots reportedly tried to take the plane to three different airports but failed to land. The exact cause of the pilots' inability to land is still under investigation.
This tragic incident has raised concerns about the safety of civilian aircraft in conflict zones and the potential for misunderstandings or deliberate actions that could lead to catastrophic consequences. The international community continues to call for transparency and accountability in the ongoing investigations.
- The disaster of the Azerbaijan Airlines Flight J2-8243, considered non-accidental now, has brought intense focus on industry safety in areas affected by war-and-conflicts, especially in regions near transportation hubs like aviation.
- In politics, the leaked voice recording and handwritten testimony suggest that a Russian air defense officer, Captain Dmitry Paladichuk, may have been ordered to strike the passenger plane, contradicting the initial claims that the crash was caused by Ukrainian drone attacks.
- Concurrently, investigations into the financial aspects of this tragedy are highlighting the need for tighter regulations and oversight in the use of military hardware like the Pantsir-S surface-to-air missile defense system, which was reportedly used in the downing of the plane.
- As general-news outlets cover the aftermath of the crash, attention is being paid to the criminal aspects of the event and the potential legal consequences for those implicated in the incident involving the passenger jet, emphasizing the importance of justice and accountability for such grave crimes and tragedies that shake the global community.
