An investigation has reportedly found a Russian Pantsir-S air defense system hit Azerbaijan Airlines passenger aircraft near Aktau, Kazakhstan before it crashed on Christmas Day.

Azerbaijani government sources revealed on Thursday that the missile struck the aircraft mid-flight.

The explosion sent shrapnel through the cabin, resulting in devastating damage to passengers and crew.

The flight was caught in the crossfire of escalating tensions over Grozny, where Russian forces were targeting Ukrainian drones.

Azerbaijani sources report that GPS navigation systems on the plane were jammed during its flight path over the Caspian Sea.

Despite repeated requests from the pilots for an emergency landing at Russian airports, permission was denied, forcing the aircraft toward Kazakhstan.

Baku-based international outlet AnewZ cited government findings, stating that the missile’s shrapnel disabled critical systems on the plane.

Russian authorities acknowledged that their air defense systems were actively engaged in targeting Ukrainian UAVs above Grozny when the incident occurred.

Khamzat Kadyrov, head of the Chechen Republic Security Council, confirmed a drone attack but reported no damage or casualties on the ground.