During the phone conversation, Vladimir Putin expressed his apologies regarding the tragic incident on December 25 involving an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane operating the Baku-Grozny route, which experienced external physical-technical interference within Russian airspace.
On December 28, the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, called the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev.
During the phone conversation, Vladimir Putin expressed his apologies regarding the tragic incident on December 25 involving an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane operating the Baku-Grozny route, which experienced external physical-technical interference within Russian airspace.
He extended his heartfelt condolences once again to the families and relatives of those who lost their lives in the accident and wished a swift recovery to those injured.
President Ilham Aliyev noted that the passenger plane belonging to Azerbaijan Airlines was subjected to external physical-technical interference while in Russian airspace, causing a total loss of control. The plane was redirected towards Aktau, Kazakhstan, and was only able to make an emergency landing due to the courage and professionalism of its pilots.
The President highlighted that the aircraft's fuselage bore numerous perforations and that passengers and crew members were injured mid-flight by foreign objects that penetrated the cabin. Statements from surviving cabin crew and passengers have corroborated the fact of external physical-technical interference.
During the conversation, the two leaders discussed the necessity of a thorough and comprehensive investigation into all aspects of the tragedy, ensuring those responsible are held accountable and that compensation is provided to the victims' families.
President Ilham Aliyev stated that, at Azerbaijan's initiative, an international team of experts has been formed to conduct a detailed investigation into the causes of the accident, and this team has already begun its work.
Both leaders emphasised that the investigation into the tragedy will be conducted with full transparency and that the public will be regularly updated on the process.
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