Dec. 28 (UPI) — Russian President Vladimir Putin apologized for the deadly Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243 crash on Christmas but did not take responsibility for causing it as an investigation continues into the matter.
“During the conversation, Vladimir Putin expressed his apologies for the tragic incident” that occurred after the plane “was subjected to external physical and technical interference in Russian airspace,” Aliyev said in a statement.
“Multiple holes in the fuselage of the plane, injuries to passengers and equipment due to foreign debris entering the cabin mid-flight, and the testimonies of flight attendants and surviving passengers are evidence of “external physical and technical interferences,” he said.
Putin and Aliyev agreed that a “thorough and complete investigation of all the main points of the tragedy” will be carried out to ensure that “those guilty are held accountable. “
The Azerbaijani passenger airliner “was flying according to schedule and repeatedly tried to land at Grozny Airport,” Putin said Saturday in an online statement.
“Unmanned combat aerial vehicles attacked Grozny, Mozdok and Vladikavkaz,” Putin said. “Russian air defense systems were repelling those attacks. “
Putin said the Russian Investigative Committee initiated a criminal case into the matter and Russian investigators are working in Grozny and with those from Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan at the crash site at the Aktau airport in Kazakhstan.
While Putin said Grozny was under attack by Ukrainian drones when the Azerbaijan Airlines plane attempted to land, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha blamed Russia for the fatal crash in a post on X on FridayArray.
After expressing condolences to Azerbaijan officials, Sybiha said a Russian anti-aircraft system caused the deadly crash.
Sybiha called photos and videos of the plane’s cabin a “smoking gun” that shows a Russian anti-aircraft system struck the airliner.
“We call for a fair and independent investigation to ensure that those responsible are held accountable,” Sybiha said in a subsequent post. “We will have to not let Russia lie, avoid blaming responsibility. “
U.S. National Security Adviser John Kirby on Friday agreed it appears Russian anti-aircraft caused the jet to crash but said it’s important to wait for a joint investigation by Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan to conclude.
“We have a number of early indications that do indeed recommend the option of this aircraft being shot down via Russian air defense systems,” Kirthrough told media on Friday.
“An investigation is ongoing at this time,” Kirby added. “We have come forward to help with this investigation if they wish [or] if they wish. ”
The plane was flying Wednesday morning from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, when it encountered problems with its system.
The first explanations indicated that the aircraft had been diverted due to meteorological situations and warned that a bird strike could have broken it before the accident.