The White House National Security Council announced there are early indications that the crash of Azerbaijan Airlines flight 8243 on Dec. 25 was caused by Russian air defense systems.
“We … have seen some early indications that would certainly point to the possibility that this jet was brought down by Russian air defense systems,” White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby told members of the press on Dec. 27. “That said, there’s an ongoing investigation right now. Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are conducting this jointly. We have offered our assistance to that investigation, should they need it, should they want it, but we’re gonna ... respect that process.”
