Gone to the sky, but saved souls A Requiem for the pilots of AZAL flight /PHOTO

The tragedy of Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) flight Baku - Grozny, which crashed in Aktau (Kazakhstan), revealed many things. Although the investigation is ongoing and we still have to learn all the circumstances of the tragedy, no matter how bitter they may be, one of the most important conclusions we can already draw is the undeniable heroism of the pilots, who, at the cost of their own lives, tried to save as many people as possible, both on board the aircraft and on the ground.

The 62-year-old Igor Kshnyakin and the 32-year-old Alexander Kalyaninov perished – but as heroes. What were they like? This is what we explore in our requiem to the heroes…

Captain of the aircraft Igor KSHNYAKIN

Igor Ivanovich Kshnyakin (born in 1962) received his initial pilot training in 1982 at the Sasovo Civil Aviation Flight School (Ryazan Region, Russia). In 1992, he graduated from the Russian State Hydrometeorological Institute with a degree in Meteorology. Igor Kshnyakin was an experienced pilot, with over 15,000 flight hours, of which approximately 11,200 hours were as the aircraft commander.

Living in the Baku settlement "8th Kilometer" near the "Neftchilyar" metro station, Igor Kshnyakin was due to retire in two months. But alas...

Thanks to the heroism of the pilots, 29 people survived the horrific disaster in Aktau. The crew showed immense courage, first preventing the plane from crashing into the Caspian Sea, and later, from falling onto buildings in Aktau.

Kshnyakin was held in high regard by the AZAL team and everyone who knew him. Having worked at the airline for many years, he was a top-class professional. Both in life and now, after his death, no one has spoken ill of him. A man who was in love with the sky and his profession, he fulfilled his duty until the very end…

His wife, Yana, lost a wonderful husband, and his daughters, Anastasia and Darya, lost a caring father. The family was very close, and all the neighbours speak highly of the Kshnyakins. Igor was a very positive person. His two daughters are members of Azerbaijan’s national gymnastics team.

His daughter wrote about her father: “Dad, you are my hero! You will always be in my heart. You did everything to save dozens of lives, and you sacrificed your own. I will always be proud of you! You were cheerful, you did everything for us, and you wanted us to be happy. The best dad! Rest in paradise, May God have mercy on you!”…

Alexander KALYANINOV, second pilot

Second pilot Alexander Kalyaninov (born in 1992), who lived near the "Nariman Narimanov" metro station (Baku), was born into a family closely connected to aviation—his father was a helicopter pilot and also worked at AZAL.

Sasha himself was a graduate of the Baku European Lyceum. He dreamed of becoming a pilot from childhood and was one of the most successful graduates of the lyceum. During his studies at a university in Türkiye, several letters of appreciation were sent to the Euro-Lyceum, highlighting his excellent command of the English language.

Teachers at the lyceum remember him as a well-read, intelligent, and disciplined student, and they regard his untimely passing as a great tragedy. Alexander graduated from the National Aviation Academy and continued his studies first in Izmir, then in Ukraine.

On April 6, 2021, Alexander Kalyaninov received a Master's degree in Aviation Transport during his studies at the Ukrainian State Aviation Academy (formerly the Flight Academy of the National Aviation Academy). Alexander studied at the Faculty of Flight Operations under the training program "Flight Operation of Aviation" and earned the qualifications of "Pilot Engineer" and "Research Engineer."

Alexander was very intelligent, well-read, fluent in several foreign languages, and known for his honesty, bravery, and willingness to help. When he was flying, he was happy. According to friends’ memories, Alexander was always very courageous and principled, seeing every task through to the end…

It is no surprise that these two individuals, ethnically Russian but true children of Azerbaijan in spirit, did everything in that fateful December morning to keep the aircraft, which had lost control and was responding poorly due to damage, from crashing as it veered from wing to wing. They fought to save the lives of those on board…

They achieved much, doing everything they could—and even more than they should have been able to in that situation. Heroes—pilots Igor and Alexander—are undoubtedly deserving of the highest state honours, though tragically posthumously.

According to preliminary information, on Sunday, December 29, they will be buried at the II Alley of Honor in Baku. However, the bright memory of Igor Kshnyakin and Alexander Kalyaninov will forever live in the heart of the Azerbaijani people—a memory of heroes who gave their lives to save the lives of passengers on the damaged aircraft, gone to the sky but saving souls...