Horror moment drone crashes into Azerbaijan international airport as Iran war spreads

A harrowing video circulating on social media shows the moment an alleged Iranian drone falls on an international airport, before a ball of fire erupts. The Azeri Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the incident at Nakhchivan Airport in ​Azerbaijan's exclave of Nakhchivan - adding the country "reserves the right to take appropriate retaliatory measures". It also placed the blame on Iran, which in turn denied any responsibility.

One drone crashed into the terminal building of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic Airport, damaging part of the facility. Another drone crashed near a school building in the village of Shekarabad, two civilians were injured in the explosion, according to the ministry.

Footage from a car park shows a drone hitting the airport and erupting into a ball of fire whilst a loud siren wails loudly in the background. People can be seen frantically running to their cars as they gasped in horror.

A section of the airport terminal appears to have sustained structural damage, with parts of the ceiling and walls partially collapsing.

Teachers and students from schools near the airport were evacuated due to a drone attack on Nakhchivan airport.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan warned that the "Azerbaijani side reserves the right to take appropriate retaliatory measures".

*** Ensure our latest news headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings. ***

Azerbaijan are demanding that the "Islamic Republic of Iran clarify the above issue within a short period of time, provide an explanation, and take the necessary and urgent measures to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future".

The statement added: "This attack on Azerbaijani territory contradicts the norms and principles of international law and serves to increase tensions in the region.

"The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mojtaba Dermichilu, has been summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"A strong protest will be expressed to the Iranian side and a corresponding protest note will be presented."

Nakhchivan, an Azerbaijani exclave that borders Iran, Türkiye and Armenia and sits in a strategically sensitive part of the South Caucasus, could become a flashpoint with serious regional security implications if there were any confirmed strike on its territory.