Aliyev: Attack on Crashed Azerbaijan Airlines Plane Was Not Intentional, Accountability Still Needed

The Azerbaijani authorities do not believe the Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer-190 that crashed in Aqtau in December 2024 was intentionally shot down, but Baku insists that those responsible must be punished, Orda.kz reports.

President Ilham Aliyev outlined Azerbaijan’s official position in an exclusive interview with Fox News. He stressed that he does not accuse Russia of a deliberate attack, but demands justice.

The only thing we demand is to admit responsibility, punish those who committed this crime, even if it was unintentional, and pay compensation to the victims and the airline,
 Aliyev said, as quoted by Report.az.

The crash occurred near Aqtau Airport on December 25, killing 38 of the 67 people on board, including six Kazakh citizens. The plane was flying from Baku to Grozny. Azerbaijani authorities say it was shot down by Russian air defense systems.

Aliyev has previously called the situation “clear as day” and warned that Azerbaijan was prepared to file international lawsuits against Russia.

Kazakhstan is also conducting an official investigation.

Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev recently stated that a report on the causes would be ready in a few months, confirming that external debris and fragments of “objects of unknown origin” were found in the fuselage.

Original Author: Nikita Drobny