Ilham Aliyev expresses condolences to Putin over Kamchatka plane crush

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev sent a letter of condolences to President of Russia Vladimir Putin on July 6.

"Dear, Vladimir Vladimirovich, I was deeply saddened by the news of heavy casualties as a result of An-26 plane crash in Kamchatka. On behalf of the people of Azerbaijan and on my own behalf, I extend my deepest condolences to you, families and loved ones of those who died and all the people of Russia," the letter said.

The An-26 plane belonging to the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Air Enterprise went missing on July 6. It was headed from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky to Palana and carried 22 passengers and six crew members on board. The plane’s debris has been discovered 3.8 kilometers away from the airport of Palana. An emergency source said that the plane stopped communication during its landing. One version suggests that the crash happened because of piloting error due to poor visibility. A criminal case has been initiated over violated rules of safety and air transport use.