Aleksandr Kalyaninov
Azerbaijani pilot (1992–2024)
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Aleksandr Georgievich Kalyaninov (Azerbaijani: Aleksandr Georgiyeviç Kalyaninov; 11 December 1992 – 25 December 2024) was an Azerbaijani commercial airline pilot who was recognized as a National Hero of Azerbaijan.
Aleksandr Kalyaninov | |
|---|---|
| Born | 11 December 1992 Baku, Azerbaijan |
| Died | 25 December 2024 (aged 32) Aktau, Kazakhstan |
Cause of death | Aircraft accident |
Resting place | II Alley of Honor, Baku, Azerbaijan |
| Occupation | Pilot |
Early life
Aleksandr Kalyaninov was born in 1992 in Baku, Azerbaijan. He graduated from the Baku European Lyceum.[1] In 2021, he earned a master's degree in Aviation Transport from the National Aviation University of Ukraine.[2]
Death
On 25 December 2024, Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243, an Embraer 190 aircraft, was struck by a Russian Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft missile system.[3][4] Despite the failure of control systems, the aircraft's captain Igor Kshnyakin and co-pilot Kalyaninov steered the aircraft, over the Caspian Sea, towards an area near Aktau International Airport. During the emergency landing near Aktau, Kazakhstan, the plane crashed into the ground.[5]
The aircraft was carrying 67 people: 62 passengers and 5 crew members. Twenty-nine individuals survived the crash, Kalyaninov died in the crash. He was buried on 29 December 2024, at the II Alley of Honor.[6]
Awards and legacy
On 29 December 2024, by the decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Aleksandr Kalyaninov was posthumously awarded the title of "National Hero of Azerbaijan".[7]
The memory of Kshnyakin and his crew was commemorated by the Azerbaijani government and Azerbaijan Airlines through special memorial events. His action is scheduled to be featured[needs update] in the Azerbaijan Aviation Museum and other international aviation institutions.[8]
See also
- Hokuma Aliyeva, flight attendant who died in the same accident