MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin apologized for the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash that killed 38 people. Putin dialed Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev and apologized for the drastic incident, but interestingly distanced from taking any responsibility.
Putin expressed deep sorrow over the accident in Russian airspace and wished the injured a speedy recovery. The apology comes amid reports that the plane was accidentally shot down by a Russian missile. However, The Russian president informed that there were Ukrainian drone attacks in the danger zone and that Russia had resisted them.
Putin also stated that Russia has started an investigation into the incident. The preliminary investigation report found that external interference was behind the plane crash. Azerbaijan has not blamed Russia for the accident.
Survivors say they heard an explosion outside as the plane tried to land in Grozny. The plane diverted to Aktau Airport in Kazakhstan for an emergency landing and crashed near the banks of the Caspian Sea, 3 km from Aktau.
29 people miraculously survived the accident. Experts believe that a Russian anti-aircraft missile may have exploded outside the plane and the debris may have penetrated the plane.