Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev accused Russia of executing an “absurd” cover-up after its air defenses allegedly “shot down” a passenger aircraft final week.
Russian President Vladimir Putin apologized for the “tragic incident” this weekend, however the Kremlin has not formally acknowledged that Russian air defenses shot down the aircraft. A minimum of 38 folks had been killed within the incident.
“Our plane was shot down by accident,” Aliyev instructed state tv on Sunday. “Unfortunately, in the first three days we heard only absurd versions from Russia.”
“We witnessed clear attempts to cover up the matter,” he added.
AZERBAIJAN AIRLINES BLAMES DEADLY PLANE CRASH ON ‘EXTERNAL INTERFERENCE’ AS RUSSIA SPECULATION GROWS
Proof assortment efforts are underway on the crash web site of an Azerbaijan Airways (AZAL) passenger aircraft close to Aktau, Kazakhstan, on Dec. 27, 2024. (Meiramgul Kussainova/Anadolu by way of Getty Pictures)
A Kremlin assertion mentioned the incident occurred after Russian air defenses engaged with Ukrainian assault drones, however didn’t outright state that Russian forces had shot down the aircraft.
IT’S ‘VERY UNCLEAR’ WHAT HAPPENED IN AZERBAIJAN AIRLINES CRASH, EX-STATE DEPT OFFICIAL SAYS
Aliyev is a detailed ally with Putin’s regime, and the pair held a cellphone name concerning the incident on Sunday. Neither get together has launched particulars of their dialog.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev leaves a polling station in Khankendi, Azerbaijan. (Azerbaijani Presidential Press Workplace by way of AP)
Crew members and survivors of the Azerbaijan Airways Embraer 190-passenger jet say they heard at the very least one loud bang earlier than the plane crashed on Christmas day.
AZERBAIJAN AIRLINES BLAMES DEADLY PLANE CRASH ON ‘EXTERNAL INTERFERENCE’ AS RUSSIA SPECULATION GROWS
Subhonkul Rakhimov, one of many passengers aboard Flight J2-8243, instructed Reuters from the hospital that he had begun to recite prayers and put together for the tip after listening to a bang.
The aircraft was en route from the Azerbaijani capital of Baku to the Russian metropolis of Grozny within the North Caucasus, the Related Press reviews. (The Administration of Mangystau Area)
“After the bang… I thought the plane was going to fall apart,” Rakhimov instructed the outlet. “It was obvious that the plane had been damaged in some way. It was as if it was drunk – not the same plane anymore.”
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Surviving passenger Vafa Shabanova mentioned that there have been “two explosions in the sky, and an hour and a half later the plane crashed to the ground.”
Reuters contributed to this report.
