Putin Apologizes to Azeri for Passenger Plane Crash, Admits 'Mistaken Shootdown'

Suspected Shootdown Confirmed for the First Time After Being Caught in Russian Air Defense Network

Russian President Vladimir Putin apologized to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev regarding the Azerbaijan plane crash three days ago that killed 38 people. This was the first statement acknowledging suspicions that the passenger plane was shot down after entering Russia's air defense system.

According to Yonhap News Agency citing TASS, Reuters, AFP, and other agencies, President Putin spoke with President Aliyev by phone on the 28th (local time).

Vladimir Putin, President of Russia. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

According to the Kremlin, President Putin apologized for the "tragic incident" that occurred in Russian airspace, expressed deep condolences to the families of the victims, and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured. The Kremlin explained that the call was made at President Putin's request.

AFP reported that President Putin did not directly mention that Russia shot down the passenger plane during the call. However, the Kremlin stated that Russia's air defense system was repelling Ukrainian combat drones at the time of the accident, effectively acknowledging responsibility.

The Kremlin also said that President Putin called Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to express condolences over the loss of life caused by the passenger plane crash. The two leaders agreed to maintain contact to investigate the cause of the crash.

Earlier, on the 25th, Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243 crashed while landing at Aktau Airport in western Kazakhstan. The plane carried 67 people, including 37 Azerbaijanis, 16 Russians, 6 Kazakhs, and 3 Kyrgyz, of whom 38 died.

On the 25th (local time), debris from the fuselage of Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2 8243 (Embraer ERJ-190AR), which crashed near the beach close to Aktau, Kazakhstan, is scattered. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

Subsequently, Azerbaijan Airlines announced preliminary investigation results stating there was "physical and technical interference from outside" regarding the plane crash. On the same day, Russian aviation authorities also admitted that there was a "response measure" against a Ukrainian drone attack near Grozny, the plane's destination.

At that time, major foreign media such as The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) cited anonymous sources familiar with the investigation, reporting that Russia diverted the passenger plane from its own airspace and jammed its satellite navigation system (GPS).

Although suspicions that the passenger plane was shot down after entering Russia's air defense system were repeatedly raised, Russia had maintained a stance urging caution against premature speculation and insisted on waiting for the investigation results.

However, after Azerbaijani authorities released preliminary findings the day before concluding that the passenger plane was hit by a Russian surface-to-air missile or its fragments, President Putin acknowledged the shootdown suspicions and expressed his apology just one day later.