World’s biggest killer of airline passengers is now MISSILES as latest crash brings deaths linked to Putin to over 330
Share:
MISSILES blitzing planes out of the sky have become the biggest killer of flyers across the world as the latest crash appears to pour more blood on Vladimir Putin’s hands. A Christmas Day disaster saw an Azerbaijan Airlines flight explode and fireball near the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan.
![[An Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on 27 December]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/aa8d5c60-1e83-4a17-bccd-4932e3d17104.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The tragic flight J2-8243 crash killed 38 of its 67 passengers and highlighted a new worrying trend threatening travellers. Horror movies in the past have scared viewers with planes plummeting from the sky due to engine issues or safety problems. Despite this, aviation experts have revealed jets being shot out of the sky has been by far the biggest threat to airline passengers.
![[A Soviet-era Buk surface-to-air rocket launched by pro-Russian rebels destroyed Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/298-people-killed-soviet-era-917192765.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
In fact, dangers like terrorism or technical problems have not come close to the number of casualties caused by shootdowns since 2014. The overall number of people killed in horrifying missile-shot plane attacks has risen to over 500, according to the Flight Safety Foundation’s Aviation Safety Network.
![[Members of the International Red Crescent collect dead bodies after a Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 was shot down in 2020]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/epa08111955-members-international-red-crescent-552599323.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
This is a huge change as no tragic shootdowns were recorded in the decade before this. Wednesday’s crash was the third major commercial jets being shot out of the sky due to political clashes in the last decade. A Russian missile reportedly blasted this Azerbaijan Airlines flight as it flew over an area of Chechnya in Russia, where Moscow has repeatedly used air defence systems against Ukranian drones.
