Pilot hailed as hero in Azerbaijan plane crash

(CLO) On Christmas Day, Azerbaijan Airlines flight 8243 departing from Baku met with tragedy, putting both the crew and passengers on board the Embraer 190 in imminent danger.

In this situation, Captain Igor Kshnyakin and co-pilot Aleksandr Kalyaninov steered the malfunctioning aircraft across the Caspian Sea, heading towards Aktau, Kazakhstan, hoping to make an emergency landing.

The accident killed 38 people, including the pilot, but 29 passengers, including 3 children, survived. This was hailed by many as a "Christmas miracle." The survival of the 29 passengers was partly due to the extraordinary efforts of the flight crew.

The relatively intact tail section of the Embraer 190 aircraft saved the lives of dozens of passengers. Photo: Mangystau Regional Authorities.

Former pilot and professor Dan Bubb at the University of Nevada – Las Vegas praised the pilots' skill and composure in handling the situation: "They weren't just flying the plane, they were fighting it every step of the way," he said.

Mr. Bubb compared the incident to United Airlines Flight 232 in 1989, when the crew saved 184 of the 296 people on board despite the complete loss of the hydraulic system. He emphasized that both incidents demonstrate the power of pilot training and experience in extremely harsh conditions.

Survivors recall the crew's composure in controlling the aircraft, despite the lack of power and relying entirely on basic aerodynamic principles to keep it airborne for about 290 km.

A spokesperson for Baku European Lyceum, where co-pilot Aleksandr Kalyaninov once studied, called him a hero who sacrificed himself to save the lives of dozens of passengers. The president of Azerbaijan Airlines, Samir Rzayev, also praised the courage and dedication of the flight crew.

Flight 8243, scheduled from Baku to Grozny in the North Caucasus, unexpectedly diverted for unknown reasons. The plane crashed about 3 km from Aktau, with video footage showing the aircraft plummeting before exploding upon impact.

According to data from Flightradar24, the aircraft's control system fluctuated more than 100 times in the last 74 minutes. Experts believe the aircraft lost control due to severe damage to its electrical and hydraulic systems.

Immediately after the accident, images from the scene showed large holes in the tail section of the aircraft. The aircraft's black box has been recovered for analysis. Azerbaijan Airlines announced the suspension of flights between Baku and Grozny, as well as Makhachkala, pending the results of the investigation.

Ngoc Anh (according to Newsweek, Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/phi-cong-duoc-ca-ngoi-nhu-nguoi-hung-trong-vu-roi-may-bay-azerbaijan-post327931.html