"Thanks to the pilot, he saved us with his maneuvers" – survivor recounts Aktau plane crash ordeal

Subkhonkul Rakhimov, a survivor of the recent plane crash in Aktau, has shared harrowing details of the moments leading up to the tragedy. The 48-year-old passenger described the pilot's critical role in saving lives during the incident.

According to Rakhimov, the Embraer 190 passenger plane attempted to land in Grozny multiple times but was forced to redirect due to thick fog. As the aircraft changed course, passengers heard an explosion, the source of which was unclear at the time.

"Thanks to the pilot, he saved us with his maneuvers. If it weren't for him, we would all have died," Rakhimov said.

He also revealed that when oxygen masks dropped, they were nearly empty. "I moved to the back seat and tried to use another mask," he added. 

The plane reportedly circled in the air for some time before crashing.

Rakhimov, seated in the tail section of the aircraft, noted that all passengers in that part of the plane survived. Calling his survival a "miracle," he reported only minor injuries, including a severe headache.

The Embraer 190, operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, was en route from Baku to Grozny when it crashed near Aktau on December 25. The plane carried 69 people, including five crew members.

Authorities have confirmed that 32 people survived, among them one crew member. Survivors are receiving medical and psychological support, though 12 remain in critical condition.

Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has ordered the creation of a commission to investigate the incident. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev returned to Baku, cutting short his participation in the CIS summit in Russia. Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev extended condolences to the leaders of Azerbaijan and Russia in the wake of the tragedy.

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