Inside the Cockpit: Pilot’s Last Words Before Azerbaijan Airways Crash
On December 25, 2024, an Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 aircraft tragically crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, resulting in 38 fatalities out of the 67 people on board.
In the moments leading up to the crash, the flight crew communicated several distressing messages to air traffic control. At 8:16 AM, one of the pilots reported: “We have control failure, bird strike in the cockpit.” Shortly thereafter, when prompted by ground control to “perform left orbit,” the pilot responded: “I can’t execute, control is lost.”
These communications suggest that the crew was grappling with severe control issues, possibly due to a bird strike, which ultimately led to the loss of control over the aircraft. The exact cause of the crash remains under investigation, with some reports speculating about the involvement of a missile strike; however, these claims have not been substantiated.
Despite the tragic outcome, the actions of the pilots have been commended for their efforts to manage the situation, which resulted in 29 passengers surviving the crash.