Russia must conduct transparent investigation into Azerbaijani plane crash, Turkish general urges On air on Haber Global / VIDEO

The Turkish TV channel Haber Global continued the discussion on the crash of the AZAL plane in Kazakhstan.

Turkish General Yücel Karayüz, who participated in the discussions, stated that Russia should hold accountable those who did not allow the aircraft, which was in an emergency situation, to land in Grozny and other Russian airports, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

"From the statements made after the accident, it is clear that the plane was not intentionally shot down. When the aircraft encountered an emergency, the pilot, first and foremost, sought a suitable airport for landing. If he had known that landing was impossible, he would have returned to Baku. Russia must conduct a transparent investigation and hold those responsible for the incident accountable. Since the accident, Azerbaijan, under the leadership of Ilham Aliyev, has been acting openly, transparently, and actively defending its rights on the international stage," Karayüz said.

He emphasized that Russia's apology to Azerbaijan became possible thanks to the unity of the state, the people, and the country's leader.

Former Turkish ambassador to Azerbaijan, Hulusi Kılıç, who also participated in the discussions, noted that Azerbaijani officials quickly arrived at the scene and established that the cause of the crash was not a collision with a flock of birds.

"Thanks to Azerbaijan's decisive position, Russia made an official statement. Russian President Vladimir Putin attaches great importance to relations with Azerbaijan, as was evident during the 44-day Patriotic War. There are no significant disagreements between the two countries. In this case, the responsibility lies with the officials of Grozny airport," Karayüz added.

To recall, the crash occurred on December 25, when an Embraer 190 aircraft operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, flying from Baku to Grozny, tragically went down near Aktau. The flight had 67 people on board, including 37 Azerbaijanis, 16 Russians, 6 Kazakhs, and 3 Kyrgyz nationals. Tragically, 38 people lost their lives, while 29 survived.

By Khagan Isayev