Azerbaijani President Aliyev Accuses Russia of Accidental Plane Downing; Putin Issues Apology

In a tragic incident last week, an Azerbaijan Airlines flight crashed, claiming 38 lives. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated on Sunday that the crash resulted from accidental ground fire in Russia, compounded by electronic jamming. He criticized Russian officials for initially providing misleading explanations.

The Embraer E190 passenger jet, operating as Flight J2-8243, was en route from Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku, to Grozny, Russia, when it diverted across the Caspian Sea and crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan. Of the 67 passengers and crew onboard, 29 survived due to what Aliyev described as heroic efforts by the pilots.

Investigations and Russia's Response

Russian President Vladimir Putin apologized to Aliyev for the "tragic incident" during a phone call on Saturday, marking a rare acknowledgment of responsibility. While Russia’s Kremlin statement refrained from explicitly admitting fault, it noted an ongoing criminal investigation into the event.

Aliyev, however, urged Russia to accept accountability and punish those responsible. He criticized early Russian statements attributing the crash to a bird strike or gas cylinder explosion, which he called “absurd attempts to cover up the matter.”

Russia’s Investigative Committee has assigned senior experts to determine the cause, and the plane’s black box recorders will be analyzed by the Aeronautical Accidents Investigation and Prevention Center in Brazil, where the aircraft was manufactured.

Tributes to the Heroes

Azerbaijan honored the deceased crew and passengers on Sunday in a ceremony attended by President Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva. The pilots, Captain Igor Kshnyakin and co-pilot Alexander Kalyaninov, were posthumously awarded the title of National Hero of Azerbaijan for their valor in saving lives despite their own fatal injuries.

"The pilots acted with great heroism, sacrificing themselves to save the passengers. As a result, there were survivors," Aliyev said during the ceremony at the Alley of Honour, Azerbaijan’s most revered burial site.

The daughter of Captain Kshnyakin, Anastasia Kshnyakina, described her father as a devoted pilot. “He always said he was responsible not just for his life but for everyone on board. His final act proved his heroism,” she said.

International Cooperation

Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also recognized emergency responders and local citizens for aiding survivors.

The Embraer jet, which had taken off from Baku before encountering difficulties near Grozny, sustained significant damage, including fuselage breaches and a depressurized cabin. Despite these challenges, the crew managed to navigate across the Caspian Sea and attempt a crash landing.

The crash represents one of the most severe aviation disasters involving Azerbaijan Airlines. It has also drawn attention to Russia’s military operations and airspace security, especially as reports suggest the incident coincided with Russian air defenses countering Ukrainian drone attacks.

Boeing, Embraer, and international authorities have pledged to assist with the investigation, aiming to provide answers and prevent similar tragedies in the future.