Background on the Incident
On December 25, 2024, an Azerbaijan Airlines flight crashed near Aktau while traveling from the capital, Baku, to Grozny, the capital of Russia’s Chechen Republic. The crash resulted in 38 fatalities out of the 67 passengers and crew members on board.
Initial Speculations
Initially, there were speculations that an onboard oxygen tank exploded, causing pilots to lose control of the aircraft. Ukrainian authorities pointed fingers at Moscow, blaming them for the incident that also left nearly thirty people injured.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Statement
In October 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the situation, stating that two missiles launched by Russian air defense systems in response to three Ukrainian drones entering their airspace near Grozny did not directly hit the aircraft. Instead, they detonated a few meters away.
Putin’s Explanation of Damages
According to Putin, the aircraft sustained damage from missile fragments rather than direct impact. The pilot mistakenly thought they had collided with a flock of birds and communicated this to Russian air traffic controllers, who instructed the crew to land in Majachkala, Dagestan. However, due to thick fog in Grozny, the crew proceeded towards Aktau, where the crash ultimately occurred.
Azerbaijan Transport Ministry Report Findings
The Azerbaijan Transport Ministry released a report on Thursday stating that no traces of explosives were found after initially suspecting the crash was caused by missile fragments.
Report Details
The document mentioned, “Based on the examination results, no traces of explosives were found in the three cylinders that were inspected.” The report still supports the hypothesis that the aircraft might have been damaged by shrapnel from warheads, though their origin remains undetermined.
Damages to the Aircraft
The investigation revealed that the aircraft suffered damage to its hydraulic system pipes due to solid object contact, specifically metal fragments from an steel alloy.
Putin’s Apology and Condolences
Despite Putin’s insistence that the blame lay with the Ukrainian drones, he expressed regret for what he called a “tragedy” and conveyed his condolences to the families of those who perished.
Key Questions and Answers
- What happened to the Azerbaijan Airlines flight in December 2024? The flight crashed near Aktau while traveling from Baku to Grozny, resulting in 38 fatalities.
- What were the initial speculations about the crash? There were suggestions that an onboard oxygen tank exploded, causing pilots to lose control. Ukrainian authorities accused Moscow of being responsible for the incident, which also left around thirty people injured.
- What did Russian President Vladimir Putin say about the crash? Putin stated that Russian air defense systems launched missiles in response to Ukrainian drones near Grozny, but the missiles detonated a few meters away from the aircraft. He explained that the damage was caused by missile fragments rather than direct impact.
- What did the Azerbaijan Transport Ministry report find? The report concluded that no traces of explosives were found in the inspected cylinders, supporting the theory that shrapnel from warheads damaged the aircraft. However, the origin of these fragments remains unknown.
