‘External physical, technical interference’: Azerbaijan prez to Putin on plane crash

President Vladimir Putin on Saturday also released a statement apologising for the “tragic incident” which led to 38 people dying.

Published on: Dec 28, 2024, 20:44:32 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Azerbaijan's president Ilham Aliyev stated that he has told president Vladimir Putin that the Azerbaijani Airlines plane that crashed earlier this week was first hit by "external physical and technical interference" in Russian airspace, reported news agency AFP.

Azerbaijan's president Ilham Aliyev told president Vladimir Putin that the Azerbaijani Airlines plane was first hit by "external physical and technical interference" in Russia (via REUTERS)

A statement released on Saturday by the presidency said, "President Ilham Aliyev emphasized that the Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane encountered external physical and technical interference while in Russian airspace, resulting in a complete loss of control."

Also Read: ‘Tragic incident’: Vladimir Putin apologises to Azerbaijan leader for plane crash

The statement also mentioned that the Azeri president had "highlighted that the multiple holes in the aircraft's fuselage, injuries sustained by passengers and crew due to foreign particles penetrating the cabin mid-flight, and testimonies from surviving flight attendants and passengers confirm evidence of external physical and technical interference."

Also Read: 'Physical, technical external interference': Azerbaijan Airlines on plane crash

Putin's apology

President Vladimir Putin on Saturday released a statement apologising for the "tragic incident". He also offered his condolences to the families of the deceased passengers and wished for the speedy recovery of the survivors.

Also Read: Russia says crashed Azerbaijan Airlines flight was diverted due to ‘Ukrainian drone attack’

"At that time, Grozny, Mozdok and Vladikavkaz were being attacked by Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, and Russian air defence systems repelled these attacks," the Kremlin said.

Earlier, Russian intelligence had stated that the crash could have been caused by a bird strike. An investigation into the plane crash was launched soon to judge what happened to the craft after entering Russian airspace.

An Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashed near the Aktau city in Kazakhstan on Wednesday. The flight, J2-8243, which carrying 62 passengers and five crew members, was supposed to fly from Azerbaijan's Baku to Grozny in Russia. The plane crash killed 38 people and left all 29 survivors injured.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest headlines from US news and global updates from Pakistan, Nepal, UK, Bangladesh, Russia and US Iran war Live, get all the latest headlines in one place on Hindustan Times.