Vladimir Putin Offers Apology Without Blame in Azerbaijan Plane Tragedy
On December 28, 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed condolences to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev over the tragic crash of Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243, which resulted in the deaths of 38 individuals. The flight, en route from Baku to Grozny, crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, after reportedly being struck by a Russian air defense missile.
In his communication, President Putin referred to the incident as a “tragic accident” and extended his deepest sympathies to the victims’ families.
However, he did not acknowledge Russia’s responsibility for the crash. Preliminary investigations suggest that the aircraft was mistakenly targeted by a Russian Pantsir-S air defense system, which was engaged in countering Ukrainian drone attacks at the time.
The incident underscores the potential risks to civilian aviation posed by military activities, even in regions distant from active conflict zones. Investigations are ongoing, with authorities from Azerbaijan, Russia, and Kazakhstan collaborating to determine the exact cause of the crash.
For a detailed report on President Putin’s apology and the incident, you can watch the following news segment: