Additional Coverage:
Azerbaijan Airlines Plane Crash: Eyewitness Accounts
Passengers and a crew member of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane that crashed in Kazakhstan described hearing a loud bang as it approached Grozny, Russia. Subhonkul Rakhimov, a passenger, said he thought the plane would fall apart after the bang and began to pray.
Another passenger, Vafa Shabanova, also reported hearing a bang, followed by a second one. Both passengers noticed a decrease in oxygen levels in the cabin after the bang.
Flight attendant Zulfugar Asadov said the plane was denied landing in Grozny due to fog and then heard three bangs from the left wing, causing his left arm to be injured and the cabin to lose pressure.
Possible Cause of Crash
Azerbaijan Airlines suspended flights to Russian cities and suggested that the crash was caused by “physical and technical external interference.” Four sources familiar with the preliminary findings of Azerbaijan’s investigation believe that Russian air defenses mistakenly shot down the plane. Russia has said it is waiting for the official investigation to determine what happened.
Risks to Civil Aviation
The crash highlights the risks to civil aviation even when aircraft are flying far from war zones. Previous similar incidents include the Iranian downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 and the Russian BUK missile downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17.
War Zone Proximity
The plane crashed near Grozny, which has been targeted by Ukrainian drones despite being over 530 miles from the front lines in Ukraine. Russia uses jamming equipment and air defense systems to counter the drones.
Industry Concerns
Industry experts have expressed concerns about the increased risks to civil aviation due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the presence of Ukrainian drones near Russian airspace.