Russian President Vladimir Putin has apologised to Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev for the tragic crash of a commercial airliner in Russian airspace, which claimed 38 lives. However, Putin stopped short of taking direct responsibility for the incident.
The crash occurred on Christmas Day when the airliner, carrying 67 passengers, attempted to land in Chechnya but was diverted due to an active air defence operation.
Russian forces were reportedly repelling Ukrainian drone attacks at the time. The aircraft ultimately crash-landed in Kazakhstan, leaving only 29 survivors.
In a statement released by the Kremlin on Saturday, Putin conveyed his “deep and sincere condolences” to the victims’ families and wished the injured a swift recovery.
The statement highlighted that Putin spoke to Aliyev by phone to apologise for the incident, describing it as a tragic occurrence in Russian airspace.
This marked the first official comment from the Kremlin since the crash. Previously, Russian aviation authorities described the airspace over Chechnya as “complicated” due to Ukrainian drone activity. While no direct blame was attributed, the situation underscored the heightened tensions in the region.
Aviation experts in Azerbaijan have speculated that the plane’s GPS systems may have been affected by electronic jamming, which could have contributed to its diversion.
They believe the aircraft sustained damage from shrapnel caused by Russian air-defence missile blasts. Survivors reported hearing loud bangs before the crash, further suggesting that the plane may have been unintentionally targeted.
Azerbaijan’s government has refrained from officially accusing Russia, but the country’s transport minister confirmed that the plane was subjected to “external interference.” He stated that the aircraft showed damage both internally and externally as it struggled to land.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of civil aviation in areas affected by military conflict. As investigations continue, experts are calling for greater measures to protect commercial flights from the risks posed by ongoing hostilities.
