An Azeri passenger flight crash-landed in Kazakhstan after being hit by Russian anti-aircraft systems.
As Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243 prepared to land in Grozny, Russia, it was suddenly struck by an explosion from nearby anti-aircraft fire. The pilots’ request for an emergency landing was rejected, and it was sent across the Caspian Sea to Kazakhstan, seemingly in an attempt to hide the evidence in a watery grave. The pilots miraculously reached land, crash-landing outside Aktau, saving 29 of 67 onboard.