Outfront next. Is Russia to blame? A U.S. official tells CNN, early indications,

suggest it was Putin's forces who may have taken down a passenger jet, killing dozens,

as Russian State TV tries to shift blame. Plus, a quote, it's a scary time.

Countless international students now scrambling to make it back to major universities across the U.S. before Trump takes office. Why? I'll talk to one of those students. And the Trumpian Democrat, meet the man who is embracing comparisons to the president-elect as he tries to become the next Democratic Party leader. Let's go out front.

Good evening, everyone. I'm Kate Baldwin. In for Aaron Burnett. Out front tonight, shot down.

According to a U.S. official, early indications are that a Russian anti-aircraft system may have

taken down a passenger jet killing at least 38 people.

Now, this is really terrifying video of the jet's final moments that you're seeing here.

You can see it plunging toward the ground in Kazakhstan and then bursting into flames.

Miraculously, 29 people actually survived that fiery crash, including children.

Huge questions though now, with multiple investigations underway.

Here is what we know.

The flight took off from Azerbaijan around 755 yesterday morning.

Around 9.43, Kazakhstan says it received word from Russia.

The flight was being diverted.

A Russian dispatcher claiming

it was because of a control system's failure. Forty-five minutes later, the plane went down.

Russia State TV was quick to raise one possible explanation for the crash. Birds.

It is too early to speak about the causes of the crash.

Before the investigations concluded, these are only assumptions.

Are the versions about the plane colliding with birds correct?

It is a subject of investigation.

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