The AnewZ television channel has published exclusive photographs of the Azerbaijani Airlines (AZAL) plane that crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan.
Report informs, citing the TV channel, that the internal images of the aircraft's fuselage clearly show signs of damage consistent with external interference.
In particular, the photos reveal distinct traces of shrapnel impact, casting doubt on initial theories such as bird strikes on the turbine or an explosion of the plane's fuel tank. According to Azerbaijani government sources, preliminary investigations indicate that the plane was hit by a missile fired from a Russian Pantsir-S air defense system as it approached Grozny.
Earlier, Rashad Nabiyev, Azerbaijan's Minister of Digital Development and Transport, confirmed that a missile strike had occurred, but the type of missile remains unknown. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev stated that the plane was unintentionally shot down by Russian air defenses over Russian territory. He demanded that the Russian side fully admit guilt, punish those responsible, and pay compensation to the victims and their families.
The incident, which claimed 38 lives, continues to be investigated.