2014 Heydar Aliyev Mid-Air Collision

One of the aircraft involved a few months before the collision.

### Crash

Belavia Belorussian Airways Flight 492 was a Boeing 737-300 registered EW-308PA scheduled to fly from Minsk National Airport, Minsk, Belarus, to Heydar Aliyev International Airport, Baku, Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 1111 was a Boeing 777 registered 4K-AI001 scheduled to fly from Heydar Aliyev International Airport, Baku, Azerbaijan, to Nakhchivan International Airport, Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan.

While Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 1111 was applying full throttle for takeoff from Runway 32, Belavia Belorussian Airways Flight 492 touched down on Runway 16 (the opposite side of Runway 32.) Because of heavy fog, the two airplanes did not notice each other, and the ATC tower was having a radar issue. Upon seeing Flight 492, Flight 1111 attempted to takeoff immediately and suffered from a tailstrike. Flight 492 also had the same response, however it made it into the air. When Flight 1111 took off, its tail hit the empennage of Flight 492. Both planes then crashed on the runway, killing 78 people on Flight 492 and 311 people on Flight 1111, leaving 5 injured survivors and 389 deaths.

Belavia 492 rose approximately 501 feet (153 meters) before Flight 492 crashed into the end of Runway 32. The rear landing gear collapsed, causing the tail hit the plane, ripping off the area from the tail to Row 19. This was followed by the front gear collapsing, causing the nose to hit the ground, the first part to hit the ground being the area from the cockpit to Row 4. This area ripped off the aircraft and was struck by the left wing, causing the wing to split in half, as the plane sped down the runway. As the left wing disintegrated, the plane flipped onto its side and then stopped. It is estimated that 7 people survived the initial crash, but only 2 could get out before the plane exploded or died due to fire/smoke related causes.

## Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 1111

The aircraft involved in the accident 2 years before the collision.

### Total injuries

3

Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 1111 ascended to approximately 732 feet (about 223 meters) before stalling, then crashing nose-first into the end of Runway 16. The plane hit the runway at a 35° descent angle, banking 7° left. The entire area from the cockpit to Row 41 was destroyed in the initial impact with the runway. The engines were ripped off from the wings, which had also been destroyed. The remaining part of the fuselage did not have much further movement. It is estimated that 87 passengers survived the initial crash, but could not get out before the aircraft exploded or died from smoke/fire related causes.

## Investigation

Investigation by the Ministry of National Security of Azerbaijan revealed that Belavia Flight 492 had an inactive transponder, contributing to the crash. It was also revealed that the airport's ATC had had a non-functional radar during foggy conditions, yet no safety measures were put in place. Contributing factors include Flight 1111's decision to also takeoff before V1 speed as Belavia 492 was attempting to takeoff (Flight 1111 passed V1 speed before the collision, but after Belavia 492 was seen). Azerbaijan Airlines and Belavia both denied all responsibility for the crash, blaming the ATC. Belavia was forced to compensate the survivors and deceased passengers' loved ones heavily, as the inactive transponder was a major factor in the incident. Both airlines initiated a new training program following the incident, involving more on foggy conditions and runway incursions.

## Cockpit Voice Recorder

The following data is the written version of the Cockpit Voice Recorders of both aircraft.

### Key

1. Belavia Captain
2. Belavia F/O
3. AZAL Captain
4. AZAL F/O
5. Heydar Aliyev ATC.

**Bold = Spoken on Radio**

Normal Text = Not Spoken on Radio

**3 - AZAL 1111 requesting takeoff Runway 32. We have been waiting for 20 minutes.**

**5 - AZAL 1111, after takeoff climb to 7,000 ft. and await furthe-**

**1 - Belavia 492 requesting landing Runway 16.**

**5 - Belavia 492 clear to land Runway 16. Wind is 5° at 2 knots. Expect low visibility.**

**2 - Roger, Belavia 492 landing, wind 5° at 2 knots, with low visibility.**

**5 - Readback correct.**

4 - We have been cleared for departure, yes?

2 - Ah, yes, what a beautiful day in Baku. (Sarcastic tone.)

3 - Yes, and then we climb to 7,000. Let's roll

1 - Indeed, conditions could not be worse. Let's try to be centerlined on this approach.

*AZAL 1111 starts takeoff from Runway 32.*

2 - There's the runway. God, visibility is short.

*Belavia 492 lands on Runway 16.*

1 - That's probably the best touchdown we are going to get in these conditions.

*AZAL 1111 notices Flight 492.*

2 - Yes, probably.

3 - The hell? Is that a plane?

4 - Up! Up!

*AZAL 1111 tailstrikes.*

*Belavia 492 notices Flight 1111.*

1 - Go around!

*AZAL 1111 reaches V1 speed.*

2 - I see, I see!

3 - Damnit!

*Belavia 492 lifts off the ground.*

*AZAL 1111 lifts off the ground.*

*[ Sound of collision ]*

**5 - Belavia 492, your landing?**

4 - Stay up!

1 - Easy, easy, easy!

2 - We've hit the blue plane?

*492 begins to descend.*

3 - Where did the control go?

1 - Ah-

*[ Inferred sound of Belavia 492 impacting the ground. ]*

*ATC is inferred to have witnessed the explosion of 492 hitting the ground.*

**5 - Belavia 492, report your status!**

*[ End of Belavia 492 recording ]*

*AZAL 1111 stalls.*

3 - Damnit!

**5 - AZAL 1111, have you seen Belavia 492?**

4 - There's the ground!

**3 - Do you see us?**

**5 - AZAL 1111, elaborate?**

*[ Inferred sound of 1111 impacting the ground. ]*

*[ End of AZAL 1111 recording ]*

## Other Information

1 year after the incident, when the final report was published, the air traffic controller on duty committed suicide.

All 5 survivors were Azerbaijani.

3 people that died were Russian citizens, all in the Belavia flight.

A famous Belarussian journalist was on board Flight 492 and had written a letter of what was going on. The letter was illegible.

2 of the survivors on AZAL 1111 were directly related to one of the survivors from Belavia 492. They were mother, son, and daughter.