Putin Admits Russian Air Defenses Shot Down Azerbaijani Jet
Investigation Continues into Caspian Sea Jet Incident
Details of the Crash Emerge
Preliminary findings suggest the Embraer jet, flying from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Chechnya, Russia, was not directly hit by the two missiles that impacted its vicinity. According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the missiles detonated approximately 10 meters from the aircraft, perhaps as a self-destruction mechanism. This detonation, rather than the warheads themselves, likely caused the damage through debris, resulting in numerous holes in the fuselage-a detail confirmed by a February report from the Kazakh government.
The pilot initially reported the incident as a collision with a flock of birds to Russian air traffic controllers, a report corroborated by the aircraft’s “black boxes.” Despite sustaining significant damage,the jet managed to travel an additional 450 kilometers across the Caspian Sea before landing.
Diplomatic Tensions and Ongoing Investigation
The incident sparked criticism from Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who publicly expressed dissatisfaction with Moscow’s initial response, alleging an attempt to downplay the event’s true cause. Aliyev recently thanked Putin for personally overseeing the investigation, acknowledging Putin’s commitment to addressing the issue following their recent meeting.
Putin cautioned that a complete understanding of the crash’s causes will “probably take some more time,” indicating the complexity of the investigation. As of February 29, 2024, the investigation remains active, with authorities working to determine the precise sequence of events and contributing factors.