Azerbaijan: "Russia Trying to Conceal Passenger Plane Crash... Those Involved Must Be Punished"

by Oh Suyon

Published 30 Dec.2024 06:45(KST)

Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan, pointed out that the crash of his country's passenger plane on the 25th was caused by Russia and that Russia tried to cover it up.

According to AP News and others on the 29th (local time), President Aliyev said in a speech on national TV, "We can say that our plane was accidentally shot down."

President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

President Aliyev pointed out that Russia tried to conceal the incident for several days. He said, "Unfortunately, for the first three days, we heard nothing but rumors from Russia," adding, "It is clear that there was an attempt to hide the incident."

He stated, "Russia must acknowledge responsibility, hold those involved criminally accountable, and pay compensation to Azerbaijan as well as the passengers and crew."

Azerbaijan Airlines flight J28243, which departed from Baku, Azerbaijan on the 25th and was heading to Grozny, Russia, suddenly changed its route, crossed the Caspian Sea eastward, and then attempted to land in Aktau, western Kazakhstan, where it crashed. The passenger plane carried 67 people, including 37 Azerbaijanis, 16 Russians, 6 Kazakhs, and 3 Kyrgyz, of whom 38 died.

Immediately after the accident, the Russian side denied responsibility, claiming the plane "collided with a flock of birds," but preliminary investigation results from Azerbaijani authorities released the day before indicated that the plane was shot down by mistaken fire from a Russian air defense missile.

Russian President Vladimir Putin called President Aliyev to express his apologies, and the two leaders discussed ways to cooperate on the accident investigation.