President Vladimir Putin issued an apology to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Saturday over what the Kremlin described as a "tragic incident" involving the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane in Russian airspace. The plane crash, which occurred on Wednesday, claimed at least 38 lives and has led to mounting questions about Russia's role in the disaster.
The flight, identified as J2-8243, was en route from Baku to Grozny, the capital of Russia's Chechen Republic. The aircraft crash-landed near Aktau in Kazakhstan after reportedly diverting from southern Russia, an area under attack by Ukrainian drones at the time. Passengers described hearing a loud bang before the plane went down, leading to suspicions of external interference.
In a rare public admission, Putin expressed his "deep and sincere condolences" to the victims' families during a phone call with Aliyev. He also wished the injured a swift recovery. According to the Kremlin, Putin explained that Grozny, Mozdok, and Vladikavkaz were under attack by Ukrainian drones, prompting Russian air defense systems to respond. While Moscow has launched a criminal investigation, the Kremlin’s statement stopped short of directly acknowledging responsibility for the crash.
Azerbaijan, however, has indicated that the plane was subject to "external physical and technical interference" in Russian airspace, resulting in its loss of control and subsequent redirection to Kazakhstan. Preliminary findings from Azerbaijani authorities, supported by passenger testimonies and evidence of fuselage penetration, suggest the plane may have been struck mid-air. Reports from U.S. officials also point to Russian anti-aircraft missiles as a likely cause.
The incident has drawn international attention, with calls for accountability and transparency. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky extended condolences to Aliyev and demanded clear explanations from Russia. The European Union’s foreign affairs chief, Kaja Kallas, called for a "swift, independent international investigation" to uncover the truth, highlighting parallels to the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in 2014. That flight, shot down over eastern Ukraine, was determined by Dutch investigators to have been hit by a Russian BUK missile system—an allegation Moscow denied.
This latest tragedy underscores the dangers posed to civilian aviation even far from active war zones. As Ukraine intensifies its drone operations against Russia, the risk of miscalculated defenses affecting civilian aircraft has become a pressing concern. Comparisons have also been drawn to the 2020 downing of a Ukrainian airliner by Iranian Revolutionary Guards, which resulted in 176 fatalities.
The Azerbaijan Airlines crash left 29 survivors, many of whom endured injuries from external impacts. Footage from inside the plane revealed passengers using oxygen masks and life jackets before the crash, while post-crash videos showed the wounded climbing out of the wreckage.
With questions about accountability lingering, the international community is watching closely to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation. The tragedy highlights the broader consequences of the ongoing conflict and the urgent need to safeguard civilian lives amid escalating tensions.
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