MOSCOW, December 28. /TASS/. President of Russia and Azerbaijan, Vladimir Putin and Ilham Aliyev respectively, discussed in detail the recent crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) passenger plane’s crash near the Kazakh city of Aktau this week, the Kremlin’s press office said in a statement on Saturday.

"Issues regarding the crash of the Azerbaijani Airlines passenger plane on December 25 near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan have been discussed in detail," the statement reads.

The press office of the president of Tajikistan stated in turn that: "During the phone conversation, Vladimir Putin expressed his apologies regarding the tragic incident involving an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane operating the Baku-Grozny route on December 25, which was subjected to external physical and technical interference in Russian airspace."

"President Putin extended his deepest and most sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives in the crash and wished a swift recovery to the injured," according to the statement from Aliyev’s press office.

"President Ilham Aliyev emphasized that the Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane encountered external physical and technical interference while in Russian airspace, resulting in a complete loss of control," the statement continued. "The Azerbaijani President noted that the aircraft was redirected to Kazakhstan's city of Aktau and was able to make an emergency landing solely due to the courage and professionalism of the pilots."

"President Ilham Aliyev announced that, at Azerbaijan's initiative, a team of international experts has been formed to investigate the causes of the accident in detail, and this team has already begun its work," according to the statement. "The heads of state also reaffirmed that the investigation into the tragedy will be conducted with full transparency, with regular updates provided to the public."

The Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190, en route from Baku to Grozny, crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau on December 25. The aircraft carried 67 people, including 62 passengers, primarily citizens of Azerbaijan, as well as nationals of Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, along with five crew members.

According to the latest updates, 38 people, including seven Russians, lost their lives, while 29 others survived. A special flight sent by Russia’s Emergencies Ministry evacuated nine Russian nationals, including a child, who were injured in the crash, from Aktau.