As the aircraft neared its destination of Grozny in southern Russia, two passengers and one crew member aboard the Azerbaijan Airlines flight that crashed in Kazakhstan told Reuters they heard at least one huge blast.
Following a diversion from a region of southern Russia where Moscow has frequently deployed air defense systems against Ukrainian attack drones, Flight J2-8243 crashed Wednesday in a ball of flames close to Aktau, Kazakhstan. 29 persons survived, while at least 38 were slain.
Passenger Subhonkul Rakhimov told Reuters from the hospital, “I thought the plane was going to fall apart after the bang.”
He claimed that after hearing the blast, he began to pray and get ready to die.
I was very scared
He claimed that it was clear that the aircraft had sustained some sort of damage. It was not the same plane anymore, as if it had been inebriated.
Another traveler on the aircraft reported to Reuters that she heard a big bang as well.
Vafa Shabanova recalled, “There was a second bang, and I was really scared.”
A flight attendant then instructed her to go to the back of the aircraft.
Following the explosion, both passengers reported that there seemed to be an issue with the oxygen levels in the cabin.
According to flight attendant Zulfugar Asadov, fog prevented the plane from landing in Grozny, therefore the pilot circled before there were explosions outside.
I heard an explosion coming from the left wing just as the pilot had raised the aircraft. He said there were three bangs.
His left arm was struck by something. The pressure in the cabin dropped.
In addition to the horrific catastrophe, the first-hand recollections of the passengers provide light on potential contributing factors.
Citing technical and physical external interference as the reason of the disaster, Azerbaijan Airlines banned many flights to Russian locations on Friday. The nature of the interference was not explained.
Reuters reported Thursday that Russian air defenses had accidentally shot it down, according to four people involved with Azerbaijan’s initial investigation into the tragedy.
Russia has said that before deciding what happened, it is crucial to wait for the official inquiry to be finished.
Crash landing
After traveling from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, in southern Chechnya, Russia, the Embraer EMBR3.SA passenger jet veered hundreds of kilometers across the Caspian Sea.
Asadov, the attendant, informed me that although the pilot had been directed to land the jet at sea, he chose to establish a course for Aktau and land it on the ground instead.
He instructed us to be ready and get the passengers ready because he said there might be a harsh landing.
Following an emergency, which Russia’s aviation watchdog says was brought on by a bird attack, it crashed on the other side of the Caspian.
Before the plane crashed, passengers recorded footage of people wearing life jackets and oxygen masks below. Bloodied and damaged passengers were seen stepping out of the aircraft in later footage.
According to Rakhimov, there was a pause following the crash landing before the injured started to groan.
Even when planes are flying hundreds of miles away from a conflict zone, the crash has brought attention to the risks associated with civil aviation, especially while a significant drone war is in progress.
In 2020, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards shot down Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752, killing all 176 persons on board. This was one of the previous tragedies.
In 2014, 298 passengers and crew members perished when Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine by a Russian BUK missile system.
When Korean Air Lines Flight 007 veered off course and entered forbidden airspace in 1983, the Soviet Union shot it down. All 290 passengers on board an Iran Air flight were killed when the US cruiser Vincennes shot it down over the Persian Gulf during the Iran-Iraq War in 1988.
Drone war
More over 530 miles from Ukraine’s front lines, the Azerbaijan Airlines aircraft encountered difficulties close to Grozny, which has been frequently targeted by Ukrainian drones that have attacked far below Russian lines.
Russia employs several air defense systems to take down the drones and sophisticated electronic jamming devices to confound Ukrainian drone location and communication systems.
We re in a conflict
Airlines have operated flights throughout Ukraine since Russia’s 2022 troop deployment of thousands of troops, and Russia has shut down important airports in southwestern Russia.
According to Andrew Nicholson, CEO of Osprey Flight Solutions, “we are in a conflict in that area, and that is not going to change.”
The risk increases significantly the moment civilian aircraft are placed in the same airspace, especially when there is an ongoing drone attack and air defense operations, as was the case in this instance.
Due to heavy fog and a local alert for Ukrainian drones, the aircraft chose to change its course from its initial destination in Chechnya, Russia’s aviation watchdog said on Friday.
According to Rosaviatsia, the captain was given the option of landing at several airports but ultimately decided on Aktau in Kazakhstan. It said it will offer full assistance to the crash investigations in Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday he had nothing to contribute to claims that Russian air defenses had accidentally shot down the plane and did not want to make any judgments before the official inquiry was over.
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Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.