Did Russia accidentally shoot down the Azerbaijan Airlines flight that crashed in Kazakhstan?

Dozens of people miraculously survived a horrific plane crash yesterday, with reports suggesting it may have been accidentally shot down by Russian forces.

The passenger jet crashed near the Kazakhstan city of Aktau, killing 38.

There were 29 survivors.

Speculation was mounting about Russian involvement, with the country’s media suggesting its air defences may have mistaken the plane for a Ukrainian drone.

The crash came shortly after drone strikes hit southern Russia.

The Azerbaijan Airlines flight had been en-route from the Azerbaijani capital Baku to the Russian city of Grozny before changing course.

Russia’s aviation watchdog suggested the mid-flight emergency might have been caused by a bird strike, but experts suggested it was unlikely.

Richard Aboulafia, an analyst at AeroDynamic Advisory, said a collision with birds typically resulted in the plane landing in the nearest available field.

“You can lose control of the plane, but you don’t fly wildly off course as a consequence,” he said.

The Fighterbomber Telegram channel, believed to be run by a captain in the Russian army, released a clip showing holes in the fuselage, which experts suggested resembled damage caused by shelling or shrapnel.

The channel said it was unlikely the holes were caused by a bird strike.

Mobile phone footage posted online shows the aircraft making a steep descent before smashing into the ground in a fireball.

Incredibly, there were 29 survivors, with some walking out of the wreckage unharmed.

Azerbaijan Airlines said 37 passengers were Azerbaijani citizens.

There were also 16 Russian nationals, six Kazakhstani and three Kyrgyzstani citizens, as well as five crew members.

Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev said it was too soon to speculate on the reasons behind the crash, but added: “The information provided to me is that the plane changed its course between Baku and Grozny due to worsening weather conditions and headed to Aktau airport, where it crashed upon landing.”

Mr Aliyev, who had been travelling to St Petersburg, returned to Azerbaijan after hearing news of the crash.

He had been due to attend an informal meeting of leaders of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a bloc of former Soviet countries founded after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Mr Aliyev said on social media: “It is with deep sadness that I express my condolences to the families of the victims and wish a speedy recovery to those injured.”

He also signed a decree declaring December 26 a day of mourning in Azerbaijan.

Russian president Vladimir Putin spoke to Mr Aliyev on the phone and expressed his condolences, a Kremlin official said.

Speaking at the CIS meeting in St Petersburg, Mr Putin said that Russia’s emergency ministry sent a plane with equipment and medical workers to Kazakhstan to assist with the aftermath of the crash.