Azerbaijani air authorities did not allow a Russian military-transport aircraft IL-76, heading for the Erebuni military airport in Armenia, to fly in their airspace, forcing the plane to return to the departure airport in Sochi.

Conversations between the command post and the pilot, published by blogger GalandecZP, show that the Il-76 was flying to Syria through Armenia.

"You can't reach Yerevan. Azerbaijan won't allow. Overflight is prohibited ," said the controller. The crew was then instructed to return to the airport in Sochi.