Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has expressed his condolences and apologized for the tragic crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines flight in Russian airspace, though he did not explicitly take responsibility. The flight, which had attempted to land in Grozny, Chechnya, was diverted due to an inability to reach the airport and later crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, killing 38 people. Passengers from Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan were on board, and two children survived the crash.
The cause of the incident remains unclear. However, a U.S. official suggested that the plane might have been downed by a Russian anti-aircraft system. Putin acknowledged the tragedy in a phone call with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, but the Kremlin did not confirm if Russian air defenses were involved. Putin also noted that the plane had repeatedly tried to land in Grozny but was hindered by drone attacks in the region, which triggered the activation of Russian air defense systems.
Videos of the wreckage show damage to the plane, with holes in the fuselage that resemble shrapnel damage, possibly from an explosion near the tail. Azerbaijan’s President Aliyev reported that the plane encountered “external physical and technical interference” during its flight, citing evidence of foreign particles penetrating the cabin.
In a phone call with Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Putin also expressed his condolences. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, reacting to the crash, demanded that Russia provide clear explanations and stop spreading disinformation, citing the visible damage to the aircraft that strongly suggested a missile strike.
The incident has led to concerns about air travel safety, with at least five airlines, including Azerbaijan Airlines and Flydubai, suspending flights to parts of Russia, citing safety reasons.
