Putin Apologizes for Azerbaijan Plane Crash
Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent an apology to Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev for the downing of an Azerbaijan Airlines jet in Russian airspace, killing 38 people. Putin allegedly did not explicitly acknowledge that Russia was behind the downing.
The "Tragic Incident" Amid Ukrainian Drone Strikes
In his first public comments about the Christmas Day tragedy, Putin labeled it a "tragic incident". He maintained it took place at the time of "active air defense actions, repelling Ukrainian strikes" near Grozny in Chechnya.
The first to react was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who immediately blamed Russia for spreading misinformation. Zelensky called on Russia to be transparent: "Russia must provide clear explanations" as to the incident that strongly looked like an air defense missile strike.
The ill-fated flight J2-8243 took off from Baku bound for Grozny on December 25th. A report said that it was fired upon by the Russian air defenses and it turned off towards the Caspian Sea. It then crash-landed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, with a total of 38 dead out of the 67 passengers aboard.
Most of the passengers were Azerbaijani citizens, while others were from Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Survivors, most of whom sat in the tail of the plane, recount the sound of loud booms before the crash, suspected to be a result of a missile strike.
Kremlin's Apology Without Accountability
Indeed, the official Kremlin statement confirmed that Putin called Aliyev to apologize for the incident. The statement offered condolences to the families of the victims and confirmed repeated attempts by the plane to land in Grozny airport. However, the statement would not confirm whether the aircraft was struck by Russian missiles.
He said, "Grozny, Mozdok, and Vladikavkaz were coming under attack by Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, and the Russian air defense systems have been repelling these attacks," though refraining from admitting guilt in the crash.
Ukraine and Aviation Experts Demand Transparency
President Zelensky asked to conduct a comprehensive investigation, saying it was evident from the damage pattern that the fuselage carried signs of an air defense missile strike. Aviation experts and officials in Azerbaijan believed that the plane's GPS systems were likely disrupted by electronic jamming, leaving it vulnerable to missile shrapnel.
Survivors' accounts added to evidence of shrapnel damage as proof that external interference had taken place. Azerbaijan's transport minister confirmed the aircraft had suffered "external interference" in its struggle to land.
Investigations and International Reactions
The Russian and Azerbaijani governments have both launched investigations into the crash. U.S. defense officials also pointed the finger at the Russians, heaping further pressure on Moscow for answers.
After the incident, flights to Russia's cities have been suspended by some Azerbaijan airlines. They would not probably come into normal function before completion of the inquiry about it.
The Aftermath
The accident has increased tensions in relations between Russia and Azerbaijan amid mounting calls for accountability over the disaster. With an investigation in process, the expert consensus and international community would look toward Moscow's transparency over its involvement in bringing down the plane.
Key Takeaways
- Incident Summary: Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243 crash-landed in Kazakhstan after reportedly coming under fire from Russian air defense systems.
Casualties: 38 out of the 67 passengers were killed; survivors sat mostly behind in the plane. - Reaction: "Apologized" but has denied culpability; Ukraine, and aviation experts call for maximum openness. - Investigation: Separate inquiries into this incident have been initiated both by Azerbaijan and Russia.
As investigations unfold, the world waits for final answers on the tragic crash of Azerbaijan Airlines and consequences for Russian accountability.