r/skeptic • u/JetTheDawg • 2d ago

Exclusive: Preliminary investigation confirms Russian missile caused Azerbaijan Airlines crash

https://www.euronews.com/2024/12/26/exclusive-preliminary-investigation-confirms-russian-missile-over-grozny-caused-aktau-cras
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u/ivandoesnot 2d ago

It was obvious from the damage that it was caused by a smaller missile, Pantsir or MANPADS.

Which is why the plane was able to keep flying.

A BUK or S-300 has a MUCH bigger warhead (tennis ball vs. soccer ball).

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u/H0vis 2d ago

Yeah I was thinking about this. Civilian airliners usually fly high enough that they can only be hit with big missiles, and when that happens they are destroyed completely. If this one was hit with a shoulder launched weapon that's very unusual.

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u/Happytallperson 2d ago

Apparently passengers reported an explosion during the landing approach at Grozny, which would be consistent with a local air defence battery fucking up due to drone attacks on the city.

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u/H0vis 2d ago

Oof. That it happened in Grozny does put it in some context. Not exactly the safest airspace in the world.