The Azerbaijan Airlines flight that crashed in Kazakhstan on Wednesday was downed by a Russian air defence system, four sources in Azerbaijan with knowledge of the investigation told Reuters.
An Embraer EMBR3.SA passenger jet crashed near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, killing 38 people, after diverting from an area of Russia in which Moscow has used air defence systems against Ukrainian drone strikes in recent months.
Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243 had flown hundreds of miles off its scheduled route from Azerbaijan's Baku to Grozny, in Russia's Chechnya, to crash on the opposite shore of the Caspian Sea, after what Russia's aviation watchdog said was an emergency that may have been caused by a bird strike.
Officials did not immediately explain why it had crossed the sea, but the crash came after Ukrainian drone strikes this month hit the Chechnya region of southern Russia. The nearest Russian airport on the plane's flight path was closed on Wednesday morning.
Russian, Azerbaijani and Kazakhstani officials have all called for investigations into the crash.
Trump says US will hit Iran 'very hard', take control of energy infrastructure
US confirms third strike on Indian-crewed tankers this week
US and Iran trade attacks for a second day, undermining shaky ceasefire
UK defence minister Healey quits, says PM Starmer's plans fail to keep country safe
Bahrain says debris from intercepted Iranian drones injures child, damages homes
Philippines launches probe into deaths of two athletes from top basketball team
Kuwait resumes airspace after brief closure due to Iranian attacks
Canada introduces legislation to ban social media for children under 16
