Putin Apologizes for Azerbaijan Airlines Plane Crash in Russian Airspace

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev on Saturday discussed with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin the recent crash of Azerbaijan Airlines passenger aircraft near Aktau, Kazakhstan.

In a telephone call, President Aliyev stated that the aircraft encountered external physical and technical interference while in Russian airspace, resulting in the total loss of control. The airplane was redirected to Aktau, where it was able to make an emergency landing solely due to the courage and professionalism of the pilots.

“The multiple holes in the aircraft's fuselage, injuries sustained by passengers and crew due to foreign particles penetrating the cabin mid-flight, and testimonies from surviving flight attendants and passengers confirm evidence of external physical and technical interference,” President Aliyev emphasized.

President Putin expressed his apologies regarding the tragic incident in Russian airspace involving an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane operating the Baku-Grozny route on December 25. He extended his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the crash and wished a swift recovery to those injured.

Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) has earlier reported that an "Embraer 190" aircraft, operating the Baku-Grozny flight on December 25 had crashed due to physical and technical external interference.

The Minister of Digital Development and Transport, Rashad Nabiyev, confirmed that findings from the crash site and witness testimonies strongly suggest external interference.

"Immediately after the crash, a commission was established under the directive of President Ilham Aliyev. The commission visited the crash site in Aktau, met with victims, and inspected the wreckage for details about the incident," Nabiyev told journalists on Friday.

According to him, witnesses, including injured passengers and surviving flight attendants, reported hearing explosion sounds over Grozny, with one flight attendant sustaining arm injuries and another passenger wounded in the arm and leg. Russian nationals on board also corroborated hearing three explosions and reported that the sound appeared to originate externally, followed by impacts on the aircraft.

Holes in the aircraft's wing and fuselage, consistent with external impact from foreign objects, were seen in footage gone viral on social media and media outlets. While initial reports suggested a bird strike, investigators have dismissed this theory.

"Experts believe the damage observed on the aircraft and witness accounts confirm external interference. The type of weapon used will be determined by the ongoing investigation,” Minister Nabiyev said.

According to Azerbaijani government sources, the missile was launched from a Pantsir-S air defense system, as reported by the Baku-based international outlet AnewZ.

An "Embraer 190" aircraft operating the Baku-Grozny flight by Azerbaijan Airlines on December 25 made a crash-landing in Aktau, Kazakhstan after it was refused an emergency landing in Russian airports of Grozny, Makhachkala and Mineralnye Vody. It had reportedly been ordered to fly across the Caspian Sea towards Aktau in Kazakhstan. The plane’s GPS navigation systems were jammed in Russian airspace.

Azerbaijani government sources have confirmed to Euronews on Thursday that a Russian anti-aircraft missile caused the plane crash. Initial data suggested a surface-to-air missile strike during drone hunt above Grozny. Russian media reported that the flight time matched Russian air defense attempts to neutralize Ukrainian UAVs. Chechnya authorities have confirmed an active drone attack on the same day.

In Azerbaijan, the crew's efforts for emergency landing are seen as a heroic act that saved lives.

Commissions in Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, along with an international group of specialists from Embraer and Brazil, are participating in the investigation. Moreover, a crew of Turkish specialists has been invited to join the process.

Earlier, Azerbaijan rejected a proposal by Russia and Kazakhstan for involving CIS International Aviation Committee in the investigation.