Azerbaijan President Blames Russian Soil For Plane Crash That Killed 38

Azerbaijan's President, Ilham Aliyev, has made shocking claims regarding the tragic crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane in Kazakhstan that killed 38 people.

On Sunday, Aliyev stated that the plane, which was flying over Russian airspace, was struck by gunfire originating from Russian soil.

Photo Credit: PTI

Azerbaijan President Blames Russian Soil

His comments came during a broadcast on Azerbaijan's state television, where he expressed his disappointment that certain Russian circles had attempted to suppress the truth surrounding the crash.

Aliyev suggested that false narratives were being spread and urged Russian authorities to acknowledge the incident, apologize to Azerbaijan, and share the facts with the public in a timely manner. He emphasized that Russia should have taken responsibility for the tragic event, given the close ties between the two countries.

The incident occurred on Wednesday when Flight J2-8243, travelling from Baku to Aktau in Kazakhstan, crashed, initially believed to have been caused by a bird strike or dense fog. However, later reports indicated that the plane may have been downed by Russian air defence systems, possibly in connection with military operations targeting Ukrainian drones.

In response to the incident, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his regret for the "tragic event" but refrained from taking full responsibility, instead offering an apology for the incident that occurred over Russian airspace. Putin's apology came just days after Azerbaijan's President called for more transparency in the investigation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, meanwhile, has called for clear explanations from Putin regarding the crash, voicing his condolences and demanding accountability for the loss of life.

The White House has also weighed in, suggesting that initial evidence points to the involvement of Russian air defense systems in the crash. The U.S. government has offered assistance in investigating the incident, while the United Kingdom has called for an independent probe into the matter.

As the investigation continues, both Azerbaijan and international observers are calling for full transparency and clarity on what led to the loss of so many lives. The tragic crash has raised serious concerns over air safety, especially in conflict zones where military operations may interfere with civilian flights.