A tragic crash of an Azerbaijani passenger plane en route from Baku to Grozny resulted in 38 fatalities and 29 injuries. Russian President Putin expressed condolences to Azerbaijani President Aliyev, while investigations suggest external interference may be involved. Survivors reported severe incidents during the flight, and both Azerbaijan and the U.S. are examining potential missile strikes. Calls for an independent investigation echo memories of the MH17 disaster, highlighting concerns over air traffic safety in the region.
Azerbaijani Passenger Plane Crash: A Tragic Incident
On Wednesday, a devastating crash involving an Azerbaijani passenger plane occurred, prompting an apology from Russian President Vladimir Putin to his Azerbaijani counterpart, Ilham Aliyev. In a recent phone call, the Kremlin communicated Putin’s regret over the incident, which took place in Russian airspace. Notably, Putin refrained from mentioning any shooting but acknowledged that air defense systems were operational at the time.
Flight Details and Circumstances
The ill-fated aircraft, identified as flight J2-8243, was traveling from Baku to Grozny in Chechnya. According to Azerbaijan Airlines, the plane veered off course shortly before landing, ultimately crashing near Aktau in Kazakhstan after flying over the Caspian Sea. Putin revealed that during this time, Grozny was under threat from Ukrainian drone attacks, which Russian air defense successfully intercepted.
In his conversation with Aliyev, Putin extended his heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families and wished a swift recovery to those injured. Reports indicated that the plane made several attempts to land at Grozny airport amidst ongoing drone attacks on nearby locations, including Grozny, Mozdok, and Vladikavkaz, which were repelled by Russian defense systems.
While Putin did not directly address whether Russian missiles struck the civilian aircraft, experts are leaning towards this conclusion, as evidenced by visible damage to the fuselage and accounts from survivors. Following this, Putin also spoke with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who expressed mutual condolences regarding the casualties from both nations and emphasized the need for a thorough investigation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also reached out to Aliyev, expressing his condolences and calling for transparency from Russia, as visual evidence suggested the plane might have been hit by an air defense missile.
The Kremlin has initiated an investigation into potential air traffic safety violations, with both civilian and military specialists being interviewed. Additionally, representatives from the Azerbaijani Prosecutor General’s Office are collaborating with Russian officials in Grozny to uncover the truth behind the crash.
Preliminary assessments from Azerbaijan, the US government, and military analysts point towards external interference as a likely cause. Azerbaijani Transport Minister Rashad Nabiyev noted that expert evaluations have suggested an external impact, with eyewitnesses corroborating these claims. Survivors recounted hearing loud noises and experiencing a sudden deployment of oxygen masks, indicating a severe incident while the plane was circling above Grozny.
The aircraft, carrying 67 individuals, ultimately crashed during an emergency landing attempt in Aktau, resulting in 38 fatalities and 29 injuries. Contrary to the Russian government’s assertions, reports have surfaced claiming that the plane was denied an emergency landing at a Russian airport.
In light of the tragic events, Kaja Kallas, Vice President of the EU Commission, has called for a swift and independent international investigation. She noted that allegations of possible Russian shelling strongly evoke memories of the MH17 incident, where a passenger plane was shot down over Ukraine nearly a decade ago.