Aviation expert: AZAL crew's role in saving passengers' lives is undeniable

The survivors of the Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer ERJ-190 plane crash owe their lives largely to the professionalism of the pilots, who tried to save the aircraft until the very end, according to aviation expert Serik Mukhtybayev, former deputy of the Civil Aviation Committee of Kazakhstan.

According to Report, Mukhtybayev stated that the crew, led by the commander with over 15,000 flight hours of experience, chose Aktau airport as the nearest airfield for an emergency landing.

"The problems were most likely related to the hydraulic systems. The pilots were probably trying to control the plane using only engine thrust, which is extremely difficult. They attempted to select the most optimal trajectory and place to land," he noted.

The expert believes that the crew of the crashed plane did everything possible to land the aircraft as safely as possible.

"Unfortunately, there is information that they died, but they saved a part of the passengers. And I believe the crew's merit here is unquestionable. It was the crew's professionalism that allowed them to fly over the Caspian Sea and land on the ground," Mukhtybayev emphasized.

While refraining from making hasty conclusions about the causes of the tragedy, the expert highlighted the importance of the black box data. He also praised the timely response of all ground services involved in the crash aftermath, including prompt arrival, evacuation, and hospitalization, which played a significant role in saving lives.