**UK Calls for Probe into Plane Crash**
The UK has asked for an independent investigation into the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane. The plane was thought to have been hit by a Russian missile, according to Sky News on December 28.
**Plane Crashes in Kazakhstan**
On December 25, the Azerbaijan Airlines Flight JS-8432 crashed about three kilometers from Aktau airport in Kazakhstan. The plane was flying from Baku to Grozny when it went down. It was carrying 67 people, including 62 passengers and five crew members. Unfortunately, 38 people died and 29 were hospitalized.
**British Officials React**
A UK government spokesperson expressed condolences to the families of those who died. However, British officials criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin’s response to the crash. They said Putin’s statement did not accept responsibility for the incident and ignored the threat Russia posed to other countries.
**US and Azerbaijani Leaders Weigh In**
Both US officials and an Azerbaijani minister have said that a Ukrainian drone attack might have caused the plane to be hit by Russian air defenses. However, Putin apologized for the crash on December 28 but did not take responsibility for it.
**Bodies of Victims Returned Home**
On December 28, 24 bodies were taken from Kazakhstan back to Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital. Three crew members – pilots Igor Kshnyakin and Alexander Kalyaninov, and flight attendant Hokuma Alieva – were among the victims.
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