Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated that the Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet became uncontrollable due to electronic warfare influence and was targeted by a surface-to-air strike near Grozny, Russia.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated that the Azerbaijani civil plane was damaged from the outside, on the territory of Russia, near the city of Grozny, practically becoming uncontrollable, and was rendered uncontrollable by electronic warfare.

The tail part of the plane was also badly damaged as a result of the strike executed from the ground.

Attempts to deny the obvious fact or to cover it up are 'both absurd and stupid'.

The fuselage was full of holes, completely dismissing the version of a collision with a flock of birds.

The Russian side completely rejected the version promoted by some Russian agencies about a gas cylinder blast on board.

Russian officials put forward versions about the explosion of some gas cylinder, showing that the Russian side seeks to hush up the issue.

The Russian side must admit its guilt and apologize to Azerbaijan.

The pilots showed professionalism and heroism by operating a rogue plane and landing it despite knowing they likely would not survive, resulting in survivors and a clear statement that the plane was shot down by Russia.

Russia fired at an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet before its crash in Grozny, resulting in the tail being severely damaged and the plane almost losing control.

Azerbaijani officials suggested the aircraft was hit by a Russian air-defense system as it tried to land in Grozny, Chechnya.

Russia initially tried to cover up the cause of the crash by putting forward theories such as the plane hitting a flock of birds.

Russia is demanding that Moscow admit guilt, issue a public apology, and punish those responsible.