UK demands independent investigation into Azerbaijani Airlines crash after Putin's apology
The exact circumstances of the crash are still uncertain, as ITV News' Graham Stothard reports
The UK has called for an independent investigation into how a plane was downed over Kazakhstan which left at least 38 people dead on Christmas Day after US and Azerbaijani officials blamed Russian air defence systems for the crash.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has apologised to his Azerbaijani counterpart after a passenger plane crash landed in Kazakhstan and left 38 people dead.
On Saturday, Putin apologized to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev "for the fact that the tragic incident occurred in Russian airspace", but stopped short of claiming responsibility for downing the plane.
Meanwhile, a Kremlin statement said air defense systems were firing near Grozny on Wednesday due to a Ukrainian drone strike.
A spokesperson for the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: “Our thoughts are with all those affected by this incident, including the family and friends of those who have died.
“President Putin’s statement fails to recognise that the reckless and irresponsible actions of the Russian state pose an acute and direct threat to the interests and national security of other states.
“We call for a full and independent investigation.”
Some 29 people survived the crash, which saw an Azerbaijani airliner brought down over Kazakhstan on December 25.
The flight was on its way from the Azerbaijani capital Baku, to the Russian city of Grozny in Chechnya, when it diverted and crash-landed near Aktau in Kazakhstan, veering hundreds of miles off its planned route.
Both the US officials and Azerbaijani ministers have blamed Russian air defenses for the crash.
US officials said there are indications to suggest weapons may have downed the jet.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby said the US has "seen some early indications that would certainly point to the possibility that this jet was brought down by Russian air defense systems".
A US official said it may have been a case of mistaken identity involving a poorly-trained Russian unit.
Nabiyev, Azerbaijan’s minister of digital development and transportation, told Azerbaijani media that “preliminary conclusions by experts point at external impact,” as does witness testimony.
“The type of weapon used in the impact will be determined during the probe,” Nabiyev said.
Passengers and crew who survived the crash told Azerbaijani media that they heard loud noises on the aircraft as it was circling over Grozny.
Mobile phone footage appearing to capture the moment of the crash showed the aircraft making a steep descent before smashing into the ground in a fireball.
Witnesses and survivors reported hearing explosions as the plane came down.
The flight was carrying 62 passengers and five crew members at the time of the crash, according to Kazakhstan's Interior Ministry. Of those onboard, 42 were Azerbaijani, 16 Russian, six Kazakhs and three Kyrgyzstan nationals, Kazakh officials said.
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