https://www.rbc.ru/politics/28/12/2024/676ff0fa9a794766bc140751?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=preview

"During a conversation with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, President Vladimir Putin apologized for the tragic incident with the AZAL plane that occurred in Russian airspace, the Kremlin reports."

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

The Kremlin noted that the Azerbaijani plane attempted to land at the Grozny airport several times. "At that time, Grozny, Mozdok and Vladikavkaz were attacked by Ukrainian combat unmanned aerial vehicles, and Russian air defense systems repelled these attacks," the statement said."

"AZAL cited "physical and technical external interference" as the cause, while the Azerbaijani Ministry of Transport also reported "external interference.""