Dec. 28 (UPI) — Russian President Vladimir Putin apologized for the fatal Christmas crash of Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243, but did not take responsibility for the turn of fate as the investigation into the incident continues. love affair.
“During the conversation, Vladimir Putin expressed his apologies regarding the tragic incident” that occurred after the aircraft “was subjected to external physical and technical interference in Russian airspace,” Aliyev said in an online announcement.
“Multiple holes in the aircraft’s fuselage, injuries sustained by passengers and crew due to foreign particles penetrating the cabin mid-flight and testimonies from surviving flight attendants and passengers confirm evidence of external physical and technical interference,” 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 plane “was flying as planned and continuously trying to land at Grozny airport,” Putin said in an online message on Saturday.
“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 his condolences to Azerbaijani officials, Sybiha said the fatal crash was caused by a Russian anti-aircraft system.
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 the culprits are held accountable,” Sybiha said in a subsequent message. “We will have to not let Russia lie, avoid blaming guilt. “
U. S. National Security Adviser John Kirthrough said Friday that it appears Russian anti-aircraft aircraft were the cause of the crash, but said it was vital to wait for a joint investigation between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan to conclude.
“We have . . . some early indications that would effectively imply the option that this aircraft was shot down through Russian air defense systems,” Kirthrough told the media on Friday.
“There is an ongoing investigation at this time,” Kirby added. “We offered our assistance to this investigation if they needed it [or] sought it. “
The plane was flying from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, on Wednesday morning 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.