A plane en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, the capital of Chechnya, crashed on Wednesday while trying to land after veering off course toward Kazakhstan. The tragedy claimed the lives of 38 people, while 29 survivors were left injured.
Survivors, comprising both passengers and crew, described hearing loud noises aboard the aircraft as it circled over Grozny prior to the crash.
Samir Rzayev, the airline’s president, praised the pilots for their “heroism” and unwavering commitment to saving lives. He remarked, “Although this tragic accident has caused a tremendous loss for our nation, the crew’s courageous dedication to their duties until the very end and their focus on preserving human life have ensured their place in history,” according to an Azerbaijani news agency report.
The pilots had logged more than 15,000 flight hours, and the plane had recently passed a technical inspection.
The Associated Press released a video of the crash, showing passengers being rescued from the rear section of the aircraft, which is generally considered the safest area in the event of a crash.
Nabiyev, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Digital Development and Transportation, informed Azerbaijani media that “preliminary conclusions by experts suggest external impact,” a finding that is also corroborated by witness accounts. “The type of weapon involved in the impact will be determined during the investigation,” Nabiyev added, according to an AP report.
Two other survivors recounted their experiences, stating they heard explosions before the plane went down. Jerova Salihat, speaking from her hospital bed to Azerbaijani television, described hearing “something explode” near her leg. Vafa Shabanova, meanwhile, reported hearing “two explosions in the sky” and added, “an hour and a half later, the plane crashed to the ground.”
Dmitry Yadrov, head of Russia’s civil aviation authority Rosaviatsia, announced on Friday that the plane, preparing to land in Grozny amid dense fog, was being targeted by Ukrainian drones. As a result, authorities closed the airspace around the city. Yadrov explained that after two failed landing attempts by the captain, the airline suggested alternative airports, but the decision was made to reroute the plane to Aktau in Kazakhstan, across the Caspian Sea.
