There is no data on any missile. Plane where Prigozhin was traveling caused by an explosion

The Pentagon said Thursday (24) that it has no data supporting theories that a surface-to-air missile was used to down the plane in which Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of the Wagner group, was traveling.

The U.S. military has “no information to indicate that a surface-to-air missile” was involved in the plane crash, said Department of Defense spokesman Pat Ryder, who called reports of a missile “inaccurate.”

The press conference took place on the same day authorities in the United States and other Western countries said preliminary intelligence reports suggest that an explosion aboard the plane carrying Wagner group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, led to the plane being shot down and killing all passengers on board on Wednesday.

Although there is no official confirmation that Prigozhin is dead, Russian President Vladimir Putin has referred to him in the past.

Western authorities believe the explosion could have been caused by a bomb or other device placed on the plane, though other possibilities, such as counterfeit fuel, were also being investigated, the report said. New York Times.

A senior Western intelligence official, who requested anonymity to share sensitive information, said his government had “many clues” that the leader of the Wagner group was indeed aboard the downed plane.

However, US authorities say their secret services have not confirmed Prigozhin’s death, although this seems likely.

The Legacy 600 corporate jet allegedly carrying Prigozhin was flying at a constant speed and altitude until it suddenly crashed, flight records show. Embraer, the Brazilian manufacturer of the plane, said it stopped providing any support to the plane in 2019 due to sanctions. This support is usually largely related to aircraft maintenance.

A passenger list released by Russian civil aviation authorities on Wednesday listed Prigozhin and the Wagner’s chief captain, Dmitri Utkin, among the seven passengers and three crew members on board.

The Russian state media has given little importance to the matter, while the BRICS summit takes place in Johannesburg.