Russian President Vladimir Putin apologized for the plane crash in Russian air space on Christmas Day that left 38 people dead in a statement that said Russia was targeting Ukrainian drones over the plane’s planned destination at the time, but stopped short of taking responsibility.

Survivors of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane that crashed in Kazakhstan on Christmas Day say they heard at least one loud bang before the aircraft crashed.

Russian president Vladimir Putin on Saturday, 28 December 2024 apologised to Ilham Aliyev, the president of Azerbaijan for the Kazakhstan plane crash of the AZAL airliner that occurred in Russia's airspace and conveyed his condolences to the families of the plane crash victims.

The Embraer 190 was traveling to Grozny, Russia, but crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, killing 38 people onboard. Investigators are focusing on Russian air defense as the likely cause.

Russia’s civil aviation authority ... that “it would be wrong to make hypotheses before investigators make their verdict.” Officials in Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan have similarly avoided comment on a possible cause of the crash, saying it will be ...

Russia and Kazakhstan have tried to calm speculation about the cause of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash, following claims that it was shot down by Russian air defence systems. On Thursday, Moscow urged calm as its foreign minister said it would be wrong to draw conclusions before an investigation into the crash was complete.

Russia has almost certainly shot down another civilian plane. On Wednesday morning, Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243 crashed in Aktau, Kazakhstan killing 38 people and injuring 29 others. The crash was precipitated by a Russian Pantsir S-1 anti-aircraft missile strike and the alleged refusal of Russian air traffic controllers to grant the plane an emergency landing in a North Caucasus airport.

Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Russia all opened investigations into the cause of the crash of Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243.

Early indications’ suggest Russia shot down an Azerbaijan Airlines flight that crashed in Kazakhstan on Christmas Day, the White House said on Friday.

Both Putin and Aliyev said Saturday that experts from Russia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan had begun probing the incident, and were launching inquiries in both Grozny and Aktau. Moscow has launched a criminal investigation into the crash. I flew in a Cold War ...