Putin apologizes for damage to Azerbaijani plane

Russian President Vladimir Putin has apologized to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for the incident that occurred on December 25 when an Azerbaijan Airlines plane flying from Baku to Grozny was hit by a "physical and technical impact" in Russian airspace, the Azerbaijani president's press service reported.

As a result of the tragic incident, the crew of the plane lost control and was forced to land in the city of Aktau. Aliyev said that "holes and signs of foreign particle impact" were found on the fuselage of the plane. Passengers and crew members were injured.

The two leaders stressed the need for a comprehensive investigation into the incident and for those responsible to be held accountable. The Azerbaijani side also initiated the creation of an international group of experts.

The Kremlin had previously confirmed that Russia had apologized for the incident, but did not provide specific details about the "physical and technical impact."