Russian President Vladimir Putin called Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and expressed his condolences regarding the plane crash of the Azerbaijani company in Aktau, Russian President's Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said.
"Unfortunately, the President of Azerbaijan Aliyev had to leave St. Petersburg, Putin already called him and expressed his condolences regarding the downing of the Azerbaijani plane in Aktau," said Peskov.
The plane of Azerbaijan Airlines flying from Baku to Grozny crashed on the morning of December 25 near the city of Aktau in the west of Kazakhstan.
According to the Federal Air Transport Agency, after the plane collided with the birds, the commander decided to go to an alternative airport in Aktau.
According to preliminary information, there were 62 passengers and five crew members on the plane. According to the Ministry of Health of Kazakhstan, 28 people survived.
