Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev Accuses Russian Shooting for Plane Crash, Demands Explanation

Baku, Azerbaijan – December 29, 2024

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has claimed that the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane last week, killing 38, was caused by Russian ground fire. He also condemned the Russian authorities for their explanation over the accident, accusing them of being misleading initially.

Speaking on state television on Sunday, Aliyev said that the Embraer passenger jet was shot down “by accident” while approaching Grozny, a city in southern Russia. According to Aliyev, the plane was first subjected to electronic jamming before being fired upon. “In the first three days, we heard absurd versions from Russia,” Aliyev stated, referring to early explanations blaming birds or a gas cylinder explosion for the disaster.

Aliyev accused some individuals in Russia of trying to cover up the incident and called on Moscow to acknowledge its role and hold those responsible accountable. “We saw clear attempts at obscuring the matter,” he said.

Putin Apologizes, But Details Remain Murky

Russian President Vladimir Putin extended a rare public apology to Aliyev on Saturday, expressing regret over what the Kremlin described as a “tragic incident” involving the aircraft in Russian airspace. However, the Kremlin stopped short of admitting responsibility, merely confirming the opening of a criminal investigation.

Four sources close to Azerbaijan’s investigative team told Reuters that preliminary findings suggest Russian air defenses mistakenly shot down the aircraft amid heightened tensions from Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian cities.

Earlier on Sunday, Azerbaijan performed a solemn ceremony to honor the pilots and crew who sacrificed their lives to save 29 passengers. The co-pilot and captain, ethnic Russians Igor Kshnyakin and Alexander Kalyaninov, received great appreciation as citizens of Azerbaijan, for managing an emergency landing which saved the majority on board.

The ceremony was attended by President Aliyev and his wife, the First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, at Baku, Azerbaijan’s most revered burial site, which is known as the Alley of Honour. The dead pilots were finally laid to rest with full honours besides other national luminaries.

“Only thanks to the courage and professionalism of the pilots, an emergency landing was successfully carried out,” said a statement from the Azerbaijani presidential office. Despite their best efforts, the damaged plane crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, after diverting from its planned route. Captain Kshnyakin’s daughter, Anastasia Kshnyakina, paid tribute to her father, describing him as a dedicated pilot who prioritized his passengers’ safety above all else.

Background of the Incident

The Embraer jet left Baku for Grozny on Wednesday but went off course after facing difficulties in navigating Russian airspace. The drone strikes from Ukraine that had hit several southern Russian cities in the same period increased tensions in the region.

Reports indicate that the fuselage was damaged and crew members were injured, which led to a loss of cabin pressure and a frantic search for a landing site. The pilots managed to keep the aircraft aloft for hours, eventually crash-landing near Aktau in Kazakhstan.

The tragedy has strained Azerbaijan-Russia relations, with Aliyev demanding justice for the victims. “Russia must accept responsibility and ensure those guilty are punished,” he said.

As the investigation continues, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of geopolitical tensions.