Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash: World leaders express condolences

On December 25, an Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashed near Aktau on the Baku-Grozny route. In this regard, world leaders express their condolences, Kazinform News Agency reports.

Presidential press secretary Sherzod Asadov reported that the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, sent condolences to the leader of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, in connection with the numerous casualties as a result of the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane.

“The head of our state conveyed wishes for a speedy recovery to all victims,” the press secretary added.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Ilham Aliyev in connection with the plane crash. The head of the Turkish state expressed condolences and wished a speedy recovery to the victims.

TDH news agency reports that Turkmenistan President Serdar Berdimuhamedov sent deep condolences to Ilham Aliyev: “On behalf of the people and the government of the country, as well as on his own behalf, the president of Turkmenistan conveyed words of sympathy and support at this difficult moment to the families and friends of the victims, as well as wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured.”

On December 25, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon sent a telegram of condolences to Ilham Aliyev, Khovar writes.

“With a feeling of sympathy and deep sadness, I received the tragic news of the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger airliner near the Aktau airport in the Republic of Kazakhstan, which resulted in heavy casualties. We express our most sincere condolences to the families and friends of the victims. We wish a speedy recovery to all those injured,” the message reads.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his condolences. The statement on the UN website states, “The Secretary-General is deeply saddened by the news of a plane crash in western Kazakhstan, which has claimed the lives of many, including citizens of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, and the Russian Federation. He extends his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and expresses his profound sympathy to the affected nations. The Secretary-General also wishes a swift and full recovery to those injured in this tragic incident.”

The European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Anouar El Anouni, also expressed his condolences.

“We express our most sincere condolences to the families of the victims, and we wish a quick recovery to those injured,” El Anouni wrote.

Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister, Olzhas Bektenov, left a note in the book of condolences opened at the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Astana and expressed his deepest condolences on behalf of the Government of Kazakhstan and his own to the members of the families and relatives of the crash victims.

Senate Speaker Maulen Ashimbayev expressed condolences to the families and relatives of the victims.

“We all are shocked at the plane crash that occurred in the Mangistau region yesterday. Unfortunately, crew members and passengers, including nationals of Kazakhstan, died. We express our condolences to the families and relatives of all victims,” he said at the opening of the upper chamber’s session.

Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expressed condolences to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, stating, “Sharing the bitterness of the irreparable loss, I express sincere condolences to you, family members, and close ones of those who died, as well as the entire people of Azerbaijan. Upon my instruction, the government of Kazakhstan set up the state commission to take necessary measures as part of the special operation as well as will further provide necessary assistance to the Azerbaijani side.”

Earlier, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, Head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov, and President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov expressed their condolences to the families of the victims.

On December 25, an Azerbaijan Airlines plane flying from Baku to Grozny crashed near Aktau. There were 67 people on board the crashed plane, including five crew members. As a result of the tragedy near Aktau, 38 people died, including all 6 citizens of Kazakhstan, leaving 29 survivors.