On a somber Christmas morning, a tragic crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines flight left 38 people dead and many questions lingering in the air. Disturbing images of the wreckage have emerged, revealing peculiar holes in the fuselage that have sparked discussions and concerns about what truly caused the disaster.

Local media outlets are abuzz with theories, suggesting the possibility that the plane may have been shot down by Russian forces. While such claims are yet to be substantiated, they add a chilling angle to an already heartbreaking event.

The ill-fated flight was on a routine journey from Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan, to Grozny in Russia. Tragedy struck as the plane, carrying 67 passengers and five crew members, descended toward the western region of Kazakhstan near Aktau.

Reports from Flight Radar 24 indicate that the plane was flying over the Republic of Dagestan, skirting the Caspian Sea’s edge, before disappearing from radar visibility. This sudden vanishing act raised flags about potential proximity to Russian air defense systems, possibly putting the plane within their range.

A while later, the aircraft reappeared on radar screens, this time off its intended course. Flying unusually low over the Kazakhstan waters, it was clear something was amiss shortly before the tragic crash occurred.

Initially, the flight crew reported a severe impact against the hull, speculated to be caused by a flock of birds. However, later assessments pointed to a different, more sinister cause: an explosion caused by the aircraft’s oxygen tank. This tank normally supplies air to the cockpit during depressurization events. Its rupture would have caused dramatic pressure changes, splintering the hull into dangerous fragments.

However, the emergence of new footage showing large holes bored into the wreckage’s flank has fueled the debate. These striking visuals beg the question: Could the destruction have been the work of birds, or was there another, more human influence at play?

The suggestion that Russian air defenses might have accidentally or deliberately targeted the plane only grows louder. For now, the haunting pictures and unsettling questions remain, urging further investigation into what truly led to this devastating crash.