Survivors of the Azerbaijan Airlines Flight J2-8243, which tragically crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, are recounting harrowing moments aboard the aircraft, as initial investigations suggest the involvement of external interference, possibly from Russian air defenses.
The Embraer passenger jet, carrying 67 people, crashed in a fiery explosion on Wednesday after rerouting from Grozny, Russia, due to dense fog. At least 38 people perished, while 29 miraculously survived. Passengers described hearing loud bangs that preceded the crash, raising questions about the cause of the disaster.
Subhonkul Rakhimov, one of the passengers, told Reuters from his hospital bed that he feared for his life after hearing the initial explosion.
"After the bang...I thought the plane was going to fall apart," he said, recalling how the aircraft felt unsteady, likening it to being "drunk." Another passenger, Vafa Shabanova, also reported hearing multiple bangs, saying she was instructed to move to the rear of the plane as oxygen levels in the cabin plummeted.
Flight attendant Zulfugar Asadov recounted that the captain warned of a hard landing after deciding to divert to Aktau. Asadov added that multiple bangs were heard from the left wing, with cabin pressure dropping as the situation worsened.
Azerbaijan Airlines has temporarily suspended flights to Russian cities, citing "physical and technical external interference." Preliminary findings suggest Russian air defenses may have mistakenly targeted the plane, although Moscow has urged patience until an official investigation concludes.
The flight was diverted hundreds of miles across the Caspian Sea, ultimately crashing on the Kazakh shore. Russia’s aviation authority indicated that an emergency, possibly triggered by a bird strike, was reported before the crash. However, the incident’s proximity to Grozny—a region affected by ongoing drone warfare between Russia and Ukraine—raises suspicions of a more deliberate cause.
The tragedy highlights the ongoing dangers faced by civilian aircraft in regions impacted by military conflicts. Similar incidents include the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over Ukraine in 2014 and Iran's accidental targeting of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 in 2020.
Experts emphasize the heightened risks of flying in contested airspace.
"The second you stick civilian aircraft in that same airspace, you massively increase the risk," said Andrew Nicholson, CEO of Osprey Flight Solutions, noting the complexities posed by ongoing drone warfare and air defense operations.
Kazakh and Azerbaijani authorities are collaborating on the investigation, with support promised by Russia. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the allegations of Russian involvement, stating that conclusions should await the investigation’s results.
As families mourn the victims, survivors continue to grapple with the trauma of the crash.
"After the turmoil, there was silence, followed by the moaning of the injured," Rakhimov said, capturing the stark aftermath of one of the deadliest aviation incidents in the region's recent history.
Further updates are expected as investigations progress.