Putin apologizes to Azerbaijan for Airliner crash

Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued an apology to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, describing the crash of an Azerbaijani airliner in Kazakhstan as a “tragic incident.” The disaster, which occurred on Wednesday, claimed 38 lives and left 29 survivors out of the 67 passengers and crew onboard.

The aircraft, en route from Baku to Grozny, diverted toward Kazakhstan and crashed during an attempted landing. Russian air defense systems were reportedly active near Grozny at the time due to a Ukrainian drone strike, according to a Kremlin statement. However, the statement did not confirm whether the air defenses were directly responsible for the crash.

“I apologize for the fact that the tragic incident occurred in Russian airspace,” Putin told Aliyev in a Kremlin readout of their conversation.

Meanwhile, U.S. and Azerbaijani officials have raised concerns about external factors contributing to the crash. White House National Security Spokesman John Kirby and Azerbaijan’s Digital Development and Transport Minister Rashan Nabiyev both pointed to Russian air defenses as a possible cause. Aviation experts have also speculated that the crash could be linked to air defense activity during the Ukrainian attack.

Survivors of the crash reported hearing loud noises aboard the aircraft as it circled over Grozny, adding weight to theories that military operations may have played a role in the disaster. Despite these reports, neither Kirby nor Nabiyev explicitly accused Russia of culpability, leaving the Kremlin’s assertion unchallenged for now.

This tragic event has intensified scrutiny over the dangers of military activity near civilian air corridors. Investigations into the precise cause of the crash are ongoing, as families of the victims demand accountability and answers.