Moscow, December 28, 2024: Russian President Vladimir Putin extended a formal apology to Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev on Saturday over a “tragic incident” involving an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane that crashed in Russian airspace on Wednesday. The crash, which occurred near Aktau in western Kazakhstan, claimed 38 lives, while 28 passengers survived.
Putin’s call to Aliyev came amid growing speculation that Russian air defenses may have accidentally shot down the Embraer EMBR3.SA jet. The plane, en route from Baku to Grozny, veered off course into Kazakhstan after reportedly encountering external interference in Russian airspace.
In a Kremlin-issued statement, Putin expressed “deep and sincere condolences” to the victims’ families and wished a speedy recovery for the injured, while refraining from directly admitting responsibility. The Kremlin explained that the plane attempted multiple landings at Grozny airport during a period when Ukrainian drones were attacking cities in southern Russia, including Grozny, Mozdok, and Vladikavkaz. Russian air defense systems were reportedly engaged in repelling these attacks at the time.
“It was noted in the conversation that the Azerbaijani passenger aircraft, which was traveling according to its schedule, encountered external physical and technical interference, leading to a complete loss of control and redirection to the Kazakh city of Aktau,” Azerbaijan’s presidential office said in a statement.
US officials have also suggested preliminary evidence indicates Russian air defense systems may have been involved in the incident. Meanwhile, Azerbaijani authorities assert that the plane was struck mid-air, resulting in its catastrophic descent.
The crash has raised questions about aviation safety in the region as hostilities involving Russia and Ukraine continue to escalate. Further investigations are underway to determine the exact cause of the disaster.
