Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated that the plane crash in Kazakhstan on December 25, which killed 38 of the 40 people onboard, was caused by damage sustained while the aircraft was over Russian territory.
The Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 passenger jet was traveling from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, when it reportedly came under fire over Russian airspace near Grozny. Survivors reported hearing explosions outside the aircraft before it lost control and crash-landed in Kazakhstan.
According to President Aliyev, the plane suffered shrapnel damage to its fuselage and severe damage to its tail from fire on the ground. He also claimed that electronic warfare systems disrupted the aircraft’s controls, making it uncontrollable.
Russian President Vladimir Putin apologized for the “tragic incident,” acknowledging that Russian air defenses were active at the time to counter Ukrainian drone attacks. However, Russia has not admitted direct responsibility for the crash.
Initial explanations from Russian authorities suggested bird strikes, fog, or an onboard oxygen tank explosion as possible causes, but these were dismissed by Azerbaijan as baseless.
Aliyev has called on Russia to take full responsibility and apologize to Azerbaijan. He rejected Russia’s proposal for a Moscow-led investigation, citing concerns over bias.
The crash occurred during heightened tensions in the region, with ongoing Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian territory. International experts and Azerbaijani authorities continue to investigate the exact cause of the disaster.
