Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane, which resulted in the deaths of at least 38 people. In a phone call with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Putin offered sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to those injured.
“President Putin apologized for the tragic incident that occurred in Russian airspace,” the Kremlin stated on Saturday. “He once again expressed his deep and sincere condolences to the families of the victims.”
The Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243, carrying 62 passengers and five crew members, crashed on Wednesday near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan. Azerbaijani officials reported that the plane was subjected to “external physical and technical interference” in Russian airspace, leading to a complete loss of control and redirection to Aktau.
At the time of the incident, Grozny, Mozdok, and Vladikavkaz were reportedly under attack by Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and Russian air defense systems were actively repelling these attacks. The Kremlin noted that this may have been a contributing factor to the crash.
The Russian Investigative Committee has launched a criminal investigation into the incident. Initial investigative actions are underway, with collaborative efforts between Russian and Azerbaijani authorities. Two employees from Azerbaijan’s General Prosecutor’s Office are currently in Grozny, working alongside their Russian counterparts.
Specialized services from Russia, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan are closely cooperating at the crash site near Aktau to determine the exact cause of the accident.
The aviation disaster has prompted concerns over regional security and airspace safety amid ongoing tensions. Both leaders emphasized the importance of a thorough investigation to prevent such tragedies in the future.
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Putin speaks with Aliyev over Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash
cgtn.com
