Putin Takes Responsibility for Deadly Azerbaijani Plane Crash
Russian President Vladimir Putin has publicly admitted that Russia bears responsibility for the Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243 crash, which killed 38 people on Christmas Day 2024.
Speaking in Dushanbe, Azerbaijan, after a meeting with President Ilham Aliyev, Putin said the tragic accident resulted from “several factors”, including technical malfunctions in Russia’s air defence system.
How the Crash Happened
The Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 was en route from Baku to Aktau, Kazakhstan, when it crashed near Aktau, killing passengers from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and all five crew members onboard.
Putin disclosed that on the night of the crash, Russian forces were tracking three Ukrainian drones that had crossed into Russian territory. During the interception, two air defence missiles were mistakenly launched, narrowly missing the aircraft.
“Had that happened, the plane would have crashed immediately. They exploded meters away,” Putin said. “The damage was caused not by the warheads but by missile fragments.”
The Russian leader added that the pilot initially believed the plane had collided with birds and reported the incident to air traffic controllers, as recorded in the black box.
Although the pilot was advised to make an emergency landing in Makhachkala, he attempted to return to Kazakhstan, where the plane eventually went down.
Putin Apologizes, Promises Compensation
President Putin issued a formal apology to Azerbaijan, pledging compensation for the victims’ families and a legal review of the actions taken by Russian officials.
“We deeply regret this tragedy and will ensure all necessary accountability,” he said.
The admission comes after months of diplomatic tension, during which Azerbaijan accused Moscow of concealing the truth about the crash.
Aliyev Responds, Reaffirms Ties with Moscow
In his response, President Ilham Aliyev thanked Putin for taking responsibility and for his government’s commitment to resolving the issue.
Aliyev recalled that the crash occurred while he was en route to St Petersburg and had to turn back after receiving news of the disaster.
Despite the tragedy, Aliyev noted that bilateral relations between Russia and Azerbaijan have improved in 2025, especially in trade and economic cooperation.
In July 2025, however, Azerbaijan had announced plans to file lawsuits in international courts against Russia, following allegations that Moscow had initially covered up the details of the crash.
