Russian President Vladimir Putin has broken his silence on the Azerbaijani Airlines plane crash, apologizing for the incident occurring in Russian airspace. However, he stopped short of admitting Russian air defense was responsible.
The plane, carrying 67 people, crashed in Kazakhstan, killing 38. Western experts and the US suggest Russia may have accidentally shot down the plane.
Putin explained that Russian air defense was active due to Ukrainian combat drones attacking Grozny, but did not confirm whether Russia shot down the plane.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev emphasized that the plane encountered external interference while in Russian airspace, resulting in a loss of control. Azerbaijan is seeking an investigation to hold those responsible accountable.
The incident has sparked international concern, with the EU calling for a swift, independent investigation. The crash has also led several airlines to cancel flights to Russia.
