Putin's Reason for Apologizing to Azerbaijan Three Days After Passenger Plane Crash [AK Radio]

Russia keeps denying, apologizes after three days
Anger of Azerbaijan turning pro-Russia

At the end of 2024, two tragic incidents in the skies shocked and saddened the world. The crash of Jeju Air flight 7C2216 at Muan International Airport on the 29th and the shootdown of Azerbaijan Airlines flight 2843 by Russia on Christmas Day resulted in the loss of many precious lives. Particularly, the Azerbaijan Airlines incident, caused by Russian misfire, has raised serious international concerns about the safety of civilian aircraft operations near war zones.

In the Jeju Air accident, a total of 181 people, including passengers and crew, were on board, and it was finally confirmed that all but two crew members perished. This tragic accident occurred while returning home from a trip to Thailand during the Christmas holiday, and except for two Thai passengers, all victims were Korean, which deepened the sorrow.

The Azerbaijan Airlines crash occurred on the 25th when a passenger plane heading from Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, was shot down by the Russian air defense system. At that time, the Grozny area was under drone attacks by Ukraine, and Russian forces were conducting defensive operations. After sustaining a severe impact to the fuselage, the plane crashed not at its destination but near Aktau, Kazakhstan. Debris found at the crash site clearly showed signs of attack by the Russian air defense system.

The wreckage of an Embraer-190 aircraft belonging to Azerbaijan Airlines that crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on the 25th (local time). The passenger plane is reported to have been shot down by the Russian military air defense system while passing through Russian airspace. Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News.

Immediately after the incident, Russia attempted to evade responsibility by suggesting various possibilities such as bad weather, mechanical failure, or bird strikes. However, as evidence became clear, President Putin conveyed an apology through a phone call with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev three days later. Nonetheless, this was regarded as a 'half-hearted apology' since it did not include any concrete admission of responsibility or compensation issues. Moreover, the Russian government did not disclose the details of the phone conversation, raising doubts about its sincerity.

This incident bears many similarities to the Korean Air Lines Flight 007 shootdown in 1983 during the Cold War. At that time, a Korean Air passenger plane flying from New York to Gimpo was shot down by Soviet forces for allegedly violating Soviet airspace due to navigation device malfunction, resulting in the deaths of all 269 passengers. The Soviet Union justified its actions by suggesting the plane might have been disguised as a reconnaissance aircraft. This event led the international community to establish new regulations for the protection of civilian aircraft and marked an important turning point allowing the use of civilian satellite navigation (GPS) technology.

Currently, due to the Ukraine war and Middle East conflicts, the use of GPS jamming weapons has surged, seriously threatening the safety of civilian aircraft. Especially since major international air routes connecting Europe and Asia pass through these regions, hundreds of flights are exposed to potential risks daily. There have even been cases where fighter jets or military aircraft have crashed due to jamming attacks, heightening concerns about civilian aviation safety.

In response, airlines and manufacturers are focusing all efforts on developing anti-jamming GPS technology. However, experts point out that without fundamentally restricting the use of jamming weapons by warring parties, technological measures alone cannot provide a perfect solution. With drone operations becoming mainstream in modern warfare, the widespread use of jamming technology is increasing, emphasizing the urgent need for international regulations.

On the 29th (local time), President Ilham Aliyev held a press conference at Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku, Azerbaijan. In the press conference, he demanded an immediate apology from Russia, acknowledgment of responsibility for the incident, and punishment of those responsible. Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News.

The Azerbaijan passenger plane incident is also expected to have significant impacts on diplomatic relations between Russia and Azerbaijan. Until recently, Azerbaijan had shown moves to strengthen its pro-Russian stance. For example, it abstained from voting to suspend Russia's membership in the UN Human Rights Council in April and maintained a neutral position by not participating in sanctions against Russia related to the Ukraine war.

However, Russia's inadequate response to this accident may cause rifts in bilateral relations. Particularly, Russia's attitude contrasts sharply with Azerbaijan's immediate apology and compensation offer when Azerbaijan mistakenly shot down a Russian military helicopter in 2020, fueling anti-Russian sentiment among the Azerbaijani public.

Azerbaijan's geopolitical importance is also noteworthy. The country is a strategic hub located at the borders of Russia, Turkey, and Iran, serving as a key corridor connecting Europe and Asia. Although 95% of its population is Muslim and culturally close to Turkey, Russian influence remains significant. Should Azerbaijan shift back to a pro-Western policy following this incident, it could bring substantial changes to the regional situation.

The international community is increasingly calling for the swift establishment of new agreements to ensure the safety of civilian aircraft even in war zones. While the prompt resolution of the Ukraine war and Middle East conflicts would be the most fundamental solution, experts unanimously emphasize the necessity of institutional measures that limit military actions on international air routes during wartime in the long term.

Aviation experts particularly warn that numerous flights connecting European hub airports centered around Frankfurt with the Middle East and Eastern Europe are exposed to potential risks. This issue is not merely regional but could expand to affect international air transport as a whole.

Historically, airplane accidents have the lowest occurrence rate compared to other modes of transportation. However, once an accident occurs, it can lead to massive casualties, demanding even more thorough safety measures. The tragic consecutive aircraft accidents at the end of this year leave a lesson that close international cooperation and practical institutional improvements are urgently needed to protect peaceful skies. To guarantee the safe right to fly for civilians unrelated to war, the international community must promptly take effective measures to prevent such tragedies from recurring.

Editor's NoteThis content is also available as part of Asia Economy's economic podcast 'AK Radio.' AK Radio is a platform that provides investors with essential information on politics, economy, international affairs, technology, bio, and digital trends. Clicking the video play button within the article allows you to hear the reporter's actual voice. This article is a reorganization of the broadcast content from AK Radio through ChatGPT.