Putin Apologizes to Azerbaijan Over Deadly Plane Crash, Stops Short of Admitting Responsibility
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed condolences to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for the crash of a civilian airliner that killed 38 people, according to the Kremlin. However, he avoided taking direct responsibility for the incident.
“Vladimir Putin apologized for the tragic incident in Russian airspace,” the Kremlin stated.
The Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 was en route from Baku to Grozny when it crash-landed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on Christmas Day. Putin explained that the plane had “repeatedly attempted to land” at Grozny Airport, which was under attack by Ukrainian drones at the time.
While Russia’s air defenses repelled the drone attacks, Putin did not confirm if the airliner was struck by defensive fire. The Kremlin noted that an investigation is ongoing, involving both civilian and military experts.
Aliyev’s office suggested the crash involved “external physical and technical interference,” providing evidence of multiple holes in the fuselage, injuries from foreign particles penetrating the cabin mid-flight, and survivor accounts of explosions before the crash.
U.S. military officials told NBC News that intelligence indicates the plane may have been misidentified as a drone and shot down by Russian forces. Irregular flight patterns reportedly led to the mistake.
Rosaviatsia, Russia’s aviation authority, described the conditions at Grozny Airport as “very complicated” due to Ukrainian drone activity, dense fog, and poor visibility. After two failed landing attempts, the pilot diverted the flight, leading to the fatal crash.
Despite mounting questions, Russian officials urged caution, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stating they are “awaiting the investigation’s results.”
BY CBS NEWS
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday offered an apology to Azerbaijan’s president over the “tragic incident” involving the crash of an Azerbaijani airliner in Kazakhstan, which claimed 38 lives.
The Embraer 190 aircraft, operating as Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243, was traveling from Baku to Grozny in Russia’s North Caucasus on Wednesday when it was unexpectedly diverted under unclear circumstances.
The plane crashed while attempting to land at Aktau Airport in western Kazakhstan. Cellphone footage captured the aircraft’s steep descent before it struck the ground and erupted into a fireball approximately two miles from the airport.
The airline reported that Flight 8243 carried 67 people — 62 passengers and five crew members. The crash claimed 38 lives, leaving 29 survivors.
On Saturday, the Kremlin issued a statement revealing that air defense systems were active near Grozny Airport as the airliner made multiple attempts to land on Wednesday. However, the statement stopped short of confirming whether the plane was struck by defensive fire.
President Vladimir Putin apologized to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, expressing regret that the “tragic incident occurred in Russian airspace.”
“President Vladimir Putin apologized for the tragic incident in Russian airspace, extended heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families, and wished a swift recovery to those injured,” the Kremlin stated.
The Kremlin confirmed that a criminal investigation has been launched, with Azerbaijani state prosecutors arriving in Grozny to assist. Investigators from Russia, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan are collaborating at the crash site near Aktau, Kazakhstan.
The apology followed mounting speculation that Russian air defense systems may have accidentally downed the Azerbaijan Airlines plane. The Kremlin noted that Putin initiated the call with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
According to a statement from Aliyev’s press office, the Azerbaijani president reported evidence of “external physical and technical interference” but stopped short of directly implicating Russian defenses. Aliyev highlighted multiple holes in the aircraft’s fuselage and injuries caused by “foreign particles penetrating the cabin mid-flight.”
Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Russia have all launched investigations into the cause of the deadly plane crash. The Kremlin has urged caution against jumping to conclusions as investigators analyze evidence, including the recovered flight data and cockpit voice recorders from the crash site.
On Friday, both a U.S. official and an Azerbaijani minister suggested the crash may have been caused by an external weapon.
A U.S. official, speaking anonymously to CBS News, said initial intelligence pointed to the possibility that a Russian anti-aircraft system struck the plane. The incident occurred in a region where Ukrainian and Russian forces have exchanged drone and rocket fire for months. The official noted that, if confirmed, it would highlight Russia’s recklessness amid its ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
John Kirby, a White House National Security Council spokesman, confirmed that U.S. intelligence suggests Russian air defenses may have brought down the plane. However, he emphasized that investigations by Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are ongoing, and the U.S. will “respect that process.”
Survivors of the crash told Azerbaijani media they heard loud noises aboard the aircraft while it circled over Grozny, further fueling speculation about external interference.