Azerbaijan accuses Russia of hiding deadly plane crash cause

Baku, December 30, 2024 – Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has accused Russia of concealing the cause of a deadly plane crash that killed 38 people, as evidence emerges suggesting the aircraft was struck by a missile.

The Azerbaijan Airlines flight, carrying 67 passengers, was en route from Baku to Grozny on December 25 when it veered off course and crashed in Kazakhstan. Investigators believe the plane was hit by a Russian air defense missile over Chechnya.

Speaking on national television, Aliyev said electronic interference disrupted the aircraft’s GPS system, leading to its downing. “Our plane was accidentally struck,” he said. “Russia must take responsibility, issue a formal apology, and inform the public about this tragic incident.”

Russia initially proposed theories including bird strikes or an onboard gas cylinder explosion, which Aliyev dismissed as “absurd” attempts to shift blame.

A day earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin apologized during a phone call with Aliyev but stopped short of admitting fault. The Kremlin claimed Russian forces were responding to an alleged Ukrainian drone attack near Grozny when the crash occurred.

A joint investigation is underway, with Azerbaijani and Kazakh officials assisting Russian authorities. Evidence cited by investigators includes missile damage to the wreckage and survivor accounts of hearing an explosion before the crash.