Turkish expert calls for clarification of plane crash after Russian president's apology

Following the apology from Russian President Vladimir Putin, Turkish political expert Oguzhan Bilgin emphasized the need to clarify the circumstances of the plane crash, Report informs.

Speaking on Haber Global TV, Bilgin questioned the Russian claims that the plane collided with a flock of birds, leading to a gas cylinder explosion on board. He suggested these claims might be an attempt to cover up the incident.

"In light of the apology from Russian President Vladimir Putin and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev during their recent telephone conversation, it is crucial to clarify how the accident occurred. The results of the investigation, including why the plane was not permitted to land at nearby airports despite knowing the circumstances, should be made public," Bilgin stated.

On December 25, an AZAL passenger aircraft on a Baku-Grozny flight crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan. Among the 67 people on board, 42 were Azerbaijani citizens, 16 were Russian, 6 were Kazakh, and 3 were Kyrgyz. Tragically, 38 individuals lost their lives, while 29 survived.

Following the accident, 27 individuals were admitted to the hospital. Of these, 15 are Azerbaijani citizens, 8 are Russian citizens, and 3 are citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic. The identity of one individual has not yet been confirmed.

Three crew members, including both pilots, were killed, while two crew members survived. On December 26, 14 wounded and 4 bodies were brought to Azerbaijan. On December 29, the bodies of 24 people, including 3 crew members, were brought to the country.

In response to the numerous casualties, President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree declaring December 26 as a day of mourning. Additionally, a State Commission, led by Prime Minister Ali Asadov, was established by order of the head of state to investigate the causes of the plane crash.