Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed regret to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev over a tragic plane crash in Russian airspace, which killed 38 passengers out of 67 onboard. The Embraer 190 jet, en route from Baku to Grozny, went down in Kazakhstan under controversial circumstances.
Putin acknowledged that Russian air defenses were active when the Azerbaijani Airlines plane attempted to land in Grozny amid Ukrainian drone attacks. However, he stopped short of confirming whether Russian forces mistakenly downed the plane.
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Aliyev insisted the plane suffered “external interference” over Russian airspace, citing multiple fuselage holes and passenger injuries as evidence. Survivors reported hearing an explosion before the crash, intensifying speculation of a missile strike.
The US has indicated early evidence suggests Russian air defense systems may have brought down the plane. Moscow, meanwhile, pledged cooperation with investigations by Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.
The incident has drawn sharp criticism, with Baku demanding accountability while Moscow faces mounting questions about its role in the disaster.
