MOSCOW, December 28, 2024 — Russian President Vladimir Putin issued an apology following the tragic crash of an Azerbaijani plane in Kazakhstan shortly after a series of incidents involving Russian air defense systems. During a phone call with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on December 27, Putin expressed his condolences and referred to the downing of the aircraft as a “tragic accident.”

According to information released by the Kremlin, the incident occurred on December 25 when an Azerbaijani airliner, which had taken off from Baku, attempted to land at the airport in Grozny, Chechnya. As the plane made several landing attempts, Russian air defense systems were activated in response to simultaneous drone attacks in the region, attributed to Ukrainian forces.

President Aliyev highlighted that the plane fell victim to “external technical and physical phenomena” during its approach to Grozny, which caused it to lose control and redirect towards Aktau, Kazakhstan. However, it remains unclear whether Russian air defense fire directly struck the Azerbaijani aircraft. Putin did not confirm any involvement of the air defense systems in the incident during his conversation with Aliyev.

Concerns have arisen regarding the possibility that Russian forces may have mistakenly shot down the civilian plane. Speculation among Western experts suggests that the fuselage displayed signs consistent with missile damage, though Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refrained from commenting on these claims.

The Brazilian-made Embraer 190, operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, crashed at Aktau airport after experiencing difficulties during its landing attempts. Of the 67 people on board, 38 were confirmed dead, with condolences pouring in from various leaders and organizations.

The incident has sparked international attention and debate over the circumstances surrounding the plane's crash and the effectiveness of air defense protocols in the region. As investigations continue, the Russian government faces scrutiny over its military actions and their implications for civilian aviation safety.