Putin Apologized To Azerbaijan President For Azerbaijan Airlines Flight J28243 Being Downed in Russian Airspace

Russian President Vladimir Putin has personally apologized to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev following the tragic crash of Azerbaijan Airlines flight J28243. Despite his apology, Putin refrained from confirming Russia’s responsibility for the incident. According to Azerbaijan’s Transport Minister, Rashad Nabiyev, the crash was caused by “external interference,” with evidence pointing toward Russian involvement.

Following Azerbaijan Airlines flight J28243 the Kremlin’s official statement revealed that Putin expressed his condolences over the “tragic incident that occurred in Russian airspace.” He explained that Grozny, where the Embraer E190 aircraft had made several failed landing attempts, was under attack by Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Russian air defense systems had been actively repelling these attacks at the time, yet Putin stopped short of admitting that a Russian missile struck the plane of Azerbaijan Airlines flight J28243.

Theories Behind the Crash

While the Kremlin confirmed that the aircraft had not been granted permission to land at a Russian airport, forcing it to reroute across the Caspian Sea toward Kazakhstan, flight control for the Embraer E190 was compromised. Experts believe that Russian air defense systems likely targeted the aircraft, mistaking it for a Ukrainian drone.

Transport Minister Nabiyev disclosed that the aircraft suffered both “physical and technical” interference during its attempted landing in Grozny. Analysis of ADS-B data revealed that the aircraft experienced prolonged electronic interference, only reappearing on radar screens over the Caspian Sea approximately 20 minutes before crashing near Aktau, Kazakhstan.

Survivors Recall Explosions Mid-Air

In a miraculous turn, 29 of the 67 passengers onboard survived the crash and provided critical testimony to investigators and the media. Survivors consistently reported hearing multiple explosions mid-air, suggesting either multiple missile strikes or secondary explosions within the aircraft. As Nabiyev stated, “All [the survivors] without exception stated they heard three blast sounds when the aircraft was above Grozny.”

Evidence of Russian Involvement

The evidence supporting Russian involvement continues to mount. U.S. officials, speaking anonymously to ABC News, indicated that shrapnel holes in the aircraft’s fuselage align with damage typically caused by anti-aircraft missiles. Another Azerbaijani official claimed that the aircraft was struck by a missile fired from a Russian Pantsir-S1 system. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also commented that the shrapnel damage was “very reminiscent of an air defense missile strike.”

Dmitry Yadrov, head of Rosaviatsiya, Russia’s Federal Agency for Air Transport, defended the decision to close airspace in the region around Grozny. He confirmed that authorities had activated a “Carpet Plan,” mandating the immediate evacuation of all aircraft from the area.

In response to the tragedy, Azerbaijan Airlines announced the suspension of flights to multiple Russian cities. Other airlines, including flydubai and Turkmenistan Airlines, have similarly suspended operations in the region until the ongoing investigation concludes. Additional carriers are reviewing the situation and may follow suit in the coming days.

December 26th has been declared a national day of mourning in Azerbaijan to honor the victims of the crash. Azerbaijan Airlines has installed a memorial stand for flight J28243 at Terminal 2 of Baku Airport.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijani authorities launched a criminal investigation into the crash. Embraer, the manufacturer of the E190 aircraft, has dispatched experts to the crash site, and members of Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) are scheduled to arrive soon to assist with the investigation.

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