Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his condolences to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev following the tragic crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines flight this week, which resulted in the deaths of at least 38 people. The crash occurred after the plane, Flight J2-8243, attempted to land at Grozny airport in southern Russia, which was under attack by Ukrainian drones.
In a statement released by the Kremlin, Putin offered a formal apology for the incident, which took place in Russian airspace. He conveyed his deep sympathy to the families of the victims and wished a swift recovery for the survivors. Putin also explained that the flight had been attempting to land at Grozny airport while the area was being targeted by Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Russian air defense systems successfully repelled the attacks during that time.
The crash, which occurred near Aktau in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, resulted in a fiery explosion. The flight had diverted from its original course due to the ongoing Ukrainian drone attacks in southern Russia. Some reports suggest the plane may have been accidentally downed by Russian air defense missiles, although Moscow has declined to comment on this possibility.
In response to the crash, several airlines have suspended flights to Russian cities, including Turkmenistan Airlines and Flydubai, citing safety concerns. The crash has raised questions about the impact of ongoing military tensions on civilian aviation in the region.
