Azerbaijan president accuses Russia of ‘absurd’ plane crash cover-up, says flight was ‘shot down’

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has made strong accusations against Russia, claiming that the country engaged in an “absurd” cover-up after its air defenses allegedly shot down a passenger plane last week. This incident resulted in the tragic deaths of at least 38 people.

Russian President Vladimir Putin issued an apology for the “tragic incident,” but the Kremlin has not officially confirmed that Russian air defenses were responsible for downing the plane. Aliyev expressed his frustration with the initial response from Russia, stating, “Our plane was shot down by accident. Unfortunately, in the first three days, we heard only absurd versions from Russia.” He further criticized Russia for attempting to cover up the matter.

The Kremlin released a statement indicating that the incident occurred during engagement with Ukrainian attack drones but stopped short of explicitly stating that Russian forces shot down the aircraft. Aliyev, a close ally of Putin, engaged in a phone call with the Russian president following the incident, although details of their conversation have not been disclosed.

Crew members and survivors of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane, which was en route from Baku to Grozny, reported hearing a loud bang before the crash. Subhonkul Rakhimov, a passenger on the flight, recounted preparing for the worst after hearing the noise. He described the plane as appearing damaged and unstable after the impact. Another survivor, Vafa Shabanova, mentioned two explosions in the sky before the aircraft ultimately crashed.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing, with evidence collection efforts at the crash site in Aktau, Kazakhstan. As speculation grows surrounding the role of external interference in the crash, both Azerbaijan Airlines and Russian authorities continue to provide updates on the situation.

In conclusion, the tragic plane crash has sparked tensions between Azerbaijan and Russia, with both sides working to uncover the truth behind the incident. The global community awaits further developments as the investigation progresses.