Emirates Airline crashes Azerbaijani President: Russia’s request to “admit fault” has been fulfilled

On December 25, a passenger plane flying from Baku, Azerbaijan to Grozny, Russia, crashed on the outskirts of Aktau, Kazakhstan. The passenger plane belonged to Azerbaijan Airlines and had 62 passengers and 5 crew members on board. So far, 38 people have died in passenger plane crashes. According to CCTV News, on the 29th local time, Azerbaijani President Aliyev stated in an interview with Azerbaijan TV that in response to the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane, Azerbaijan made a request to Russia to "admit fault, punish those responsible and pay compensation." He emphasized that Azerbaijan’s first requirement has been met.

On the 29th local time, Azerbaijani President Aliyev said in an interview with Azerbaijani TV that the cause of the Aktau air crash was that the aircraft "was damaged due to attacks from the ground."

Aliyev said that the final findings require analysis of the black box, but the current preliminary findings are based on facts and have sufficient evidence.

Aliyev said, "The preliminary conclusions are well-founded and based on facts. The facts show that Azerbaijan's civilian aircraft suffered external damage near the city of Grozny in Russia and almost completely lost the ability to control it. We also know that the aircraft was affected by electronic warfare means and was in an uncontrollable state. This is the first damage to the aircraft."

Aliyev also said that the tail of the aircraft also suffered serious damage due to ground fire.

Azerbaijan Airlines announced on December 27, local time, that it would suspend flights from the Azerbaijani capital Baku to multiple cities in Russia starting from the 28th, because preliminary investigation results showed that "external physical and technical interference" was a factor that led to the crash of the passenger plane on the 25th.

Rashad Nabiyev, Minister of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan, also stated on the 27th that based on the wreckage of the Aktau plane crash and the testimony of witnesses, it can be considered that the plane was affected by "external influences." Rashad Nabiyev said that injured passengers and surviving crew members on the Aktau plane crash said they heard explosions when the plane flew over Grozny (the capital of the Russian Republic of Chechnya), and one crew member even suffered an injury to his hand. In addition, obvious perforation marks can be seen on the wings of the aircraft.