Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Thursday that Moscow will provide compensation for the 2024 crash of an Azerbaijani passenger jet, acknowledging that fragments from detonated Russian missiles may have contributed to the disaster. The remarks came during a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, marking a rare public admission of potential responsibility by Russian authorities.
Putin revealed that Russia was tracking three Ukrainian drones near its border when its air defense systems experienced "technical malfunctions," leading to two missiles self-destructing near Azerbaijan Airlines Flight J2-8243. Black box recordings indicate the pilot initially attributed turbulence to bird strikes before attempting to divert to Kazakhstan. The Embraer 190 aircraft ultimately crashed near Aktau on December 25, 2024, killing 38 of the 67 people aboard.
"The Russian side will do everything required, including compensation payments and legal assessments of involved officials," Putin stated, while Aliyev expressed confidence in the ongoing investigation's objectivity. The development comes amid heightened regional tensions, with analysts noting its potential implications for Russia-Azerbaijan relations and aviation safety protocols in conflict zones.
