Funeral Held for Crew of Crashed Azerbaijani Plane

Azerbaijan commemorated the crew and passengers of the Embraer 190 aircraft that tragically crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on December 25, killing 38 out of 67 people on board. The funeral for the deceased crew members—Captain Igor Kishnyakin, co-pilot Alexander Kalyaninov, and flight attendant Hokuma Aliyeva—was held at Heydar Aliyev International Airport, with their remains laid to rest at the Second Alley of Honor in Baku. The pilots have been hailed as heroes for their efforts to control the aircraft and facilitate an emergency landing, allowing 29 passengers to survive. Investigations into the crash are ongoing, as the incident followed attacks from Ukrainian drones in the region. The crash has left a profound impact on the aviation community and the nation, with heartfelt condolences extended to the families of the victims. Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev and other officials attended the memorial, underscoring the courage and professionalism of the crew during the disaster.