A survivor testified that just before the Azerbaijan passenger plane crash, a loud noise struck the aircraft from outside, and debris entered the cabin.
On the 27th (local time), according to The New York Times, surviving crew members Zulpugar Asadov and Aidan Rahimli, along with passenger Subkhonkul Rahimov, described the moments just before the passenger plane crashed in Kazakhstan during an interview.
Earlier, on the 25th, the passenger plane carrying a total of 67 people departed from Baku, Azerbaijan, heading to Grozny, the capital of the Chechen Republic in southern Russia. The plane suddenly changed its course and attempted to land in Aktau, western Kazakhstan, but crashed during the attempt. It was confirmed that only 29 of the passengers on board survived.
Male crew member Asadov testified that the plane attempted to land three times in Chechnya, after which the aircraft began to operate abnormally. He added that a loud noise was heard from outside the aircraft, and he injured his arm, which he bandaged with a towel.
Female crew member Rahimli said there were two loud banging noises outside the aircraft, and debris pierced into the cabin. Passenger Rahimov also heard a bang on the day of the accident and, seeing the damage to the aircraft, expected the plane to crash.
Preliminary investigation results suggesting that the crash was caused by a Russian missile or debris have been reported, and the White House has raised the possibility that the plane was mistakenly shot down by Russia’s air defense system.
The Russian side is taking a cautious stance, stating that at the time of the accident, countermeasures were taken in the Grozny airport area, the plane’s destination, due to a drone attack by Ukrainian forces.
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