Azerbaijan Blames Russia For Fatal Plane Crash: President Aliyev Demands Justice

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has accused Moscow of a "cover-up" following a passenger jet crash last month that claimed 38 lives, as tensions rise between the two neighboring nations.

During a meeting on Monday with the two surviving flight attendants and families of the deceased crew members, Aliyev stated that preliminary investigations confirmed the plane was hit by Russian air defenses. Azerbaijan’s state news agency, AZERTAC, reported this claim.

Aliyev alleged that the airspace above Grozny, the capital of Chechnya in southern Russia, was only closed after the plane was struck.

Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243, traveling from Baku to Grozny, was forced to make an emergency landing in Kazakhstan on Christmas Day. Of the 67 people onboard, 38 perished in the crash.

"I can confidently say that the guilt for the deaths of Azerbaijani citizens in this accident lies with representatives of the Russian Federation," Aliyev declared. "We demand justice, punishment for the guilty, complete transparency, and humane treatment."

Russian President Vladimir Putin offered condolences, stating the incident occurred in Russian airspace, but stopped short of accepting responsibility. The Kremlin noted that Russia’s air defense systems were active as the plane approached Grozny, citing ongoing attacks by Ukrainian combat drones.

Aliyev reiterated his accusation of a "cover-up" by Russia, criticizing the focus on "absurd versions" of the crash, which he said sparked "surprise, regret, and rightful indignation" in Azerbaijan.

"If Grozny had timely closed its airspace, observed all ground service rules, and coordinated between the armed forces and civil services, this tragedy would not have occurred," Aliyev asserted.

Breaking from protocol, Aliyev’s comments were delivered in Russian instead of Azerbaijani, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. He praised the crew’s heroism, highlighting the pilots’ professionalism in executing an emergency landing that saved some lives.

Passengers on the Brazilian-made Embraer 190 included nationals from Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Brazil’s air force announced the completion of data extraction from the plane’s black box recorders, which were sent to Brazil for analysis by international and Azerbaijani experts to ensure transparency.

The data has been forwarded to Kazakh authorities investigating the crash. Kazakhstan’s government is collaborating with Azerbaijan on the probe, while Russia's investigative committee has opened a criminal case.

Images and videos from the crash site revealed perforations resembling shrapnel damage on the plane's body, though the cause remains unconfirmed.

Aliyev expressed hope for clarity soon, saying, "I am sure that in the near future, we will learn the initial results, and everything will fall into place. The full picture of this tragedy and the punishment of its perpetrators will become known."