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Igor Ivanovich Kshnyakin (May 19, 1962, Baku – December 25, 2024, Aktau) — airplane captain, National Hero of Azerbaijan. Igor Kshnyakin is renowned for his heroic efforts to save passengers’ lives during the crash of an Embraer 190 aircraft belonging to Azerbaijan Airlines in 2024.

Life and Career

Igor Kshnyakin was born on May 19, 1962, in Baku. In 1982, he received his initial pilot training at the Sasovo Civil Aviation Flight School named after Soviet Union Hero Taran, specializing as a pilot. Additionally, in 1992, he graduated from the Russian State Hydrometeorological Institute with a degree in meteorology. Kshnyakin began his aviation career in 1982 as a second pilot of an An-2 aircraft with the Yevlakh United Aviation Detachment. On January 6, 1984, he joined the Zabrat United Aviation Detachment as a second pilot of an An-2 aircraft. By 1990, he was serving as a second pilot of a Yak-40 aircraft under the Azerbaijan Civil Aviation Administration. In 1994, he was promoted to captain of a Yak-40 aircraft, and in 1997, he became captain of the Yak-40 for Azerbaijan’s National Aviation Company, "Azal." In 1998, he transitioned to a second pilot position for the Tu-134 aircraft. By 2005, he was captain of an An-140 aircraft, and in 2008, he was elevated to captain of the ATR-42/72 aircraft. Starting June 3, 2013, after successfully completing training for Embraer-170/190 aircraft, he was appointed as a trainee pilot for the Embraer-170/190. On December 11, 2013, Kshnyakin became a captain of the Embraer-170/190 aircraft within the Flight Services Department of Azerbaijan Airlines. Kshnyakin was a highly experienced airline captain with a career spanning decades at Azerbaijan Airlines. He logged 15,000 flight hours, including 11,200 hours as captain. According to Azerbaijan Airlines, he had extensive expertise with modern aviation technologies. He is survived by two daughters.

Death

On December 25, 2024, an Embraer 190 aircraft of Azerbaijan Airlines was struck by a Russian-made Pantsir-S1 missile system. Despite the failure of the control systems, Igor Kshnyakin and co-pilot Aleksandr Kalyaninov managed to steer the plane towards an area near Aktau International Airport over the Caspian Sea. During the emergency landing near Aktau, Kazakhstan, the plane crashed. The aircraft carried 67 people: 62 passengers and 5 crew members. Twenty-nine individuals survived the crash. Igor Kshnyakin lost his life during the crash. His heroism was widely honored in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and international aviation circles. Experts described him and his team as having "entered history as heroes." Kshnyakin was buried on December 29, 2024, at the Second Alley of Honor.

Legacy

December 2024 Heroes: The Azerbaijani government and Azerbaijan Airlines commemorated Kshnyakin and his team through special memorial events.

Aviation Museum Tributes: His heroism will be showcased at the Azerbaijan Aviation Museum and other international aviation institutions.