MOSCOW, Russia – Russian President Vladimir Putin issued an apology on Saturday, December 28, 2024, to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev over the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane in Russian airspace, which killed 38 of the 67 people aboard.
The incident occurred on Christmas Day near Aktau, Kazakhstan, amid reports of heightened military activity in the region.
While Putin expressed regret for the “tragic incident,” he stopped short of acknowledging any Russian responsibility.
Instead, the Kremlin announced that an investigation involving both civilian and military specialists was underway.
“Vladimir Putin apologised for the fact that the tragic incident occurred in Russian airspace,” a Kremlin statement read.
Claims of External Interference
Aliyev’s office released a detailed account of their discussion, including claims of “external physical and technical interference” during the flight from Baku to Grozny.
Aliyev cited evidence such as multiple holes in the plane’s fuselage, injuries sustained by passengers and crew from “foreign particles penetrating the cabin mid-flight,” and statements from survivors who reported hearing explosions before the plane crashed.
The Embraer 190 aircraft had attempted to land twice at Grozny airport, which was under attack from Ukrainian combat drones at the time, according to Russian officials.
Putin said Russian air defence systems were actively responding to the drone attacks.
Russia’s aviation ministry, Rosaviatsia, described conditions at Grozny airport as “very complicated,” noting poor visibility and dense fog at an altitude of 1,600 feet.
After failing to land, the pilot diverted toward Kazakhstan, where the crash occurred.
U.S. Intelligence Suggests Possible Missile Strike
Two U.S. military officials, speaking to the US press, said intelligence suggested that the plane may have been struck by Russian missiles.
They speculated that Russian forces may have misidentified the airliner as a drone due to its irregular flight pattern.
The officials’ account aligns with suspicions raised by Azerbaijan Airlines, which reported “physical and technical external interference” during the flight.
Investigations Ongoing
The Kremlin urged caution against speculation about the crash’s cause.
“We are waiting on the results of the investigation,” spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
Meanwhile, Rosaviatsia has confirmed that the investigation will examine both civilian and military actions leading up to the crash.
Putin, however, did not address whether Russian air defence systems might have mistakenly targeted the plane.
The incident highlights escalating tensions and the risks to civilian aircraft amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
The crash has left grieving families demanding answers as both Azerbaijan and Russia await the results of their respective inquiries.
