On Christmas Day, Azerbaijan Airlines flight 8243 crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, killing 38 of the 67 people aboard. The plane, en route from Baku to Grozny, was rerouted due to thick fog but failed to land safely. Survivor and air steward Zulfugar Asadov recalled, “The captain began descending but had to abort the landing… hoping the fog would clear. However, the second and third attempts also failed.”

Flight attendant Hokuma Aliyeva, 33, comforted passengers in their final moments. Her calm voice instructed, “Fasten your seat belts. Dear passengers, please follow the instructions… Everything will be fine.” Tragically, these were her last words.

Asadov detailed the chaos as the plane encountered strange noises and ultimately broke apart upon landing. He described seeing panic spread and efforts to assist passengers, saying, “We began helping passengers and evacuating with them. A rescue team was waiting outside.”

Russian defense systems were reportedly active near Grozny due to a Ukrainian drone strike, but it remains unclear if this contributed to the crash. An investigation is ongoing.

Passenger footage captured Aliyeva’s bravery, attempting to reassure others despite injuries. Survivors credit the landing gear’s impact sequence for saving lives, as the plane split apart, avoiding total devastation. Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed condolences to Azerbaijan’s leadership.