Passengers of the plane that crashed in Kazakhstan on Wednesday reported hearing explosions from outside the aircraft. Reuters interviewed two passengers and a flight attendant who survived the crash.
The Azerbaijan Airlines flight was en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, the capital of Russia’s Chechen Republic, when it diverted for an emergency landing, resulting in 38 fatalities and 29 survivors. Survivor Subhonkul Rakhimov recounted fearing the plane would disintegrate after the explosion.
Passenger Vafa Shabanova reported two detonations, prompting panic among those on board. Both passengers noted issues with the cabin’s oxygen levels following the blasts.
Flight attendant Zulfugar Asadov heard three explosions from the left wing after the pilot, denied landing clearance in Grozny due to fog, redirected to Aqtau, Kazakhstan. Aviation experts suggested the aircraft was targeted by Russian air defenses, while Azerbaijan Airlines attributed the crash to “external physical and technical influence.” The airline has temporarily suspended flights to several Russian cities.
Source: NOS