Russian President Vladimir Putin has apologized for the fact that an Azerbaijan Airlines flight crashed after entering Russian airspace, but did not say whether Russia was responsible for the incident.
Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer ERJ-190AR (4K-AZ65) passenger plane traveling from Baku to Grozny crashes near Aktau, Kazakhstan earlier today. There were 72 occupants including five crew members.
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“Vladimir Putin offered his apologies that the tragic incident had occurred in Russia’s airspace and once again conveyed his deep and sincere condolences to the families of the plane crash victims and wished those injured the quickest recovery,” the press office said in the statement.
According to the Kremlin, the passenger plane “repeatedly attempted” to land at the airport in Grozny but at the same time, the area was under attack by Ukrainian drones, and Russian air defense systems were engaged in repelling the assault.
Putin “apologized for the fact that the tragic incident occurred in Russian airspace” in a phone call with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, the statement said.
Russian authorities have opened an investigation in relation to the disaster, it added.
Preliminary Probe Suggests ‘External Impact’
Azerbaijan’s Transport Minister, Rashad Nabiyev, stated that a preliminary investigation revealed the aircraft, which was traveling from Baku to Grozny, may have been struck by weapons fire before the crash.
“Preliminary conclusions by experts point at external impact,” Nabiyev told Azerbaijani media. “The type of weapon used in the impact will be determined during the probe.”
White House national security spokesman John Kirby has echoed that assessment, going a step further to suggest that the plane might have been downed by Russian anti-air weapons.
“That said, there’s an ongoing investigation right now. Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are conducting this jointly,” he added, noting that Washington has offered to assist the investigation should they need it and would “respect that process.”
Ukraine Accuses Russia
Ukraine, which is soon entering its fourth year of its full-scale war with Russia, was quick to point the finger at Moscow after the crash.
“The plane was damaged by the Russians and was sent to Kazakhstan instead of being urgently landed in Grozny to save lives,” Kovalenko said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he also spoke to Aliyev on Saturday, adding that the footage of the plane makes it look “very much like an air defense missile strike.”
