'Russian air defence system' downed Azerbaijan Airlines plane in deadly crash - Reuters
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The Azerbaijan Airlines plane that crashed killing 38 people was downed by a Russian air defence system, according to four Reuters sources. The 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 changed course.
It crashed around two miles from Aktau in Kazakhstan while making an attempt to land after flying east across the Caspian Sea. Mobile phone footage circulating online appeared to show the plane making a steep descent before smashing into the ground in a fireball.
Other footage showed part of its fuselage ripped away from the wings and the rest of the aircraft lying upside in the grass. Euronews, citing Azerbaijani government sources, reported a preliminary investigation found a Russian surface-to-air missile was fired at the plane during drone air activity above Grozny, which exploded next to the aircraft, with the shrapnel hitting passengers and cabin crew.
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