Putin Apologizes to Azerbaijan Over Deadly Plane Crash
President Vladimir Putin of Russia has expressed condolences and apologized to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for the tragic crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane, which took place in Aktau, Kazakhstan, on Wednesday (Dec 25). The incident resulted in 42 fatalities out of the 67 people on board, including crew members.
In a telephone conversation held on Saturday (Dec 28), Putin conveyed his sympathies and support to Aliyev, with the Kremlin releasing an official statement through Reuters. "Vladimir Putin expressed his deep condolences to the families and loved ones of those killed in the crash," the statement read.
While Putin did not directly attribute blame, various sources from Azerbaijan’s security forces and media outlets have speculated that the plane may have been mistakenly shot down by a Russian air defense missile. This theory is based on the fact that the plane was initially headed towards Russia but changed course due to poor weather conditions and was subsequently intercepted over Kazakhstan airspace.
The Russian aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, maintains that the plane was diverted due to thick fog and approaching Ukrainian drones, but offered no evidence to support the drone claim. They also asserted that the pilots were given alternative landing options, but chose to proceed to Aktau instead.
Search and rescue operations are currently underway, with both Kazakh and Azerbaijani authorities coordinating the efforts.
