By John Q. Hosedrinker 
An Azerbaijani Airlines plane crashed in Kazakhstan on December 25th, killing 38 of the 67 passengers and crew. Independent Russian media outlets report the plane may have been struck by a Russian surface-to-air missile, citing evidence of missile damage to the aircraft and eyewitness accounts of an explosion. This theory is supported by reports of drone attacks on Chechnya that morning. While Russian authorities initially attributed the crash to a bird strike, the recovered black box is expected to clarify the cause.
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The crash of an Azerbaijani Airlines plane on December 25th, en route from Baku to Grozny, raises serious questions. Initial reports from Russia cited a bird strike as the cause, leading to an emergency landing attempt near Aktau, Kazakhstan, resulting in a crash. However, independent Russian media outlets are suggesting a far more sinister explanation: a Russian surface-to-air missile may have struck the aircraft.
The evidence fueling this suspicion centers around the damage visible in videos and images of the wreckage. The tail section, in particular, shows what appear to be significant holes consistent with shrapnel-like impacts, a hallmark of surface-to-air missile strikes. This type of damage is strikingly similar to that seen in numerous other incidents involving aircraft downed by such missiles, lending credence to the theory.
Further complicating matters is the official Russian narrative of a bird strike. This explanation is not only unconvincing given the nature of the damage but also seems deliberately misleading. The sheer scale of the damage to the tail section is difficult, if not impossible, to reconcile with a bird strike. Moreover, the sheer audacity of suggesting such a flimsy explanation in the face of mounting photographic and video evidence highlights a potential attempt to obfuscate the truth.
The plane’s unusual flight path also adds to the intrigue. Reports indicate the aircraft was diverted from Grozny to Makhachkala, and the decision to fly across the Caspian Sea, rather than landing at the closer, land-based Makhachkala airport, is puzzling. Speculation regarding this decision ranges from fears of remaining in Russian airspace to the possibility of compromised navigational systems. A thorough investigation into the flight path and communications between the pilots and air traffic control is crucial to unraveling this mystery.
The fact that several passengers survived the crash, primarily those seated in the rear of the plane, is remarkable and underscores the robustness of the aircraft’s structure. The survival of these passengers could provide invaluable testimony regarding the events leading up to the crash. Access to their accounts, along with detailed flight data recordings and communication logs, is paramount for a transparent investigation.
The lack of visible smoke or fire in some of the post-crash footage might seem to contradict the missile strike theory. However, this does not necessarily rule out the possibility of a missile strike. Different types of missiles utilize various warheads, some of which may not produce significant fire or smoke upon impact. The fragments of such a missile could easily cause the damage visible on the plane’s tail section without necessarily igniting the aircraft.
Adding fuel to the fire are claims that extensive Russian propaganda efforts are attempting to control the narrative surrounding this incident. The rapid dissemination of the “bird strike” explanation across various online platforms, particularly on social media sites like Reddit and Twitter, suggests a coordinated attempt to suppress the truth. This coordinated effort highlights a broader pattern of Russian disinformation and raises concerns about transparency in the investigation.
The entire situation underscores a lack of accountability surrounding events of this nature. Repeated incidents of civilian aircraft being downed, seemingly without consequences for the perpetrators, are troubling. International bodies and concerned nations should demand a thorough and transparent investigation into this incident, unhindered by political pressure or potential cover-ups. Only a complete and impartial investigation can shed light on the true cause of this tragedy and bring those responsible to justice. The world deserves answers, not obfuscation.