Putin and Aliyev discuss plane crash near Aktau

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev on Saturday, December 28, discussed issues related to the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) airliner in Kazakhstan's Aktau. The Kremlin press service reported.

"Vladimir Putin apologized for the fact that the tragic incident occurred in Russian airspace, and once again expressed deep and sincere condolences to the families of the victims, wished a speedy recovery to the injured," the statement said.

The leaders noted that the passenger plane, which was flying on schedule, tried several times to land at Grozny airport. At that time Grozny, Mozdok and Vladikavkaz were attacked by Ukrainian drones and Russian air defense repelled these attacks.

On the fact of the crash of the aircraft the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation opened a criminal case under Article 263 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Violation of the rules of safety of movement and operation of air transport").

It is specified that two employees of the Prosecutor's Office of Azerbaijan are working in Grozny together with representatives of the Prosecutor's Office and the Investigative Committee of Russia. In addition, specialists from Russia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are actively cooperating at the crash site.

Tragedy in Aktau: Baku-Grozny passenger plane crashed

A fire started at the scene and there are survivors

A passenger plane of AZAL Airlines, heading on the route Baku - Grozny, crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau on December 25. The Ministry of Transport of Azerbaijan named the preliminary cause of the crash as outside interference. After the incident, a criminal case was initiated. According to the airline's list, 62 passengers and five crew members were on board. A total of 38 bodies were found at the crash site.

Seven Russians died in the airplane crash, nine Russian citizens survived. Later, a special airplane of the Russian Emergencies Ministry delivered them to Moscow.

Of the crew, three people survived.

After the crash, AZAL suspended flights from Baku to Grozny and Makhachkala until the investigation is completed. Later the company decided to suspend flights to Sochi, Volgograd, Ufa, Samara and Mineralnye Vody from December 28.

On December 27, representatives of the Embraer manufacturer arrived in Aktau to take part in the investigation of the crash of their company's plane. Employees of Brazil's Center for the Investigation and Prevention of Aviation Accidents (CENIPA) are also expected to arrive in the coming days.