A strange banging noise was reported outside an Azerbaijan Airlines flight before it crashed in Kazakhstan, killing dozens of people on board. The plane, carrying 67 passengers and crew, took off from Azerbaijan’s capital city Baku on Wednesday but never reached its destination of Grozny, Russia.
Eyewitnesses described the chaotic scene inside the plane as the aircraft hit turbulence, causing injury to one flight attendant. Some passengers began praying, with one recalling thinking it would be his last prayer.
Data from the plane showed that its vertical speed oscillated wildly during the final 74 minutes of flight, indicating trouble. The investigation is ongoing, with officials from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia working together to determine the cause of the crash.
Preliminary results suggest that physical and technical external interference caused the plane’s engine to fail. However, American intelligence agencies have indicated that preliminary evidence suggests the plane may have been shot down by a Russian surface-to-air missile.
The pilots were among those who did not survive, with 29 passengers surviving the crash. Survivors describe the impact as severe, but two of the survivors were able to escape due to their seats being located in the tail section of the aircraft.
Investigations are underway into the cause of the crash, which has left many questions unanswered. The incident has sparked concern and condolences from officials and families affected by the tragedy.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/27/world/europe/azerbaijan-airlines-crash-kazakhstan-survivors.html