Part 3/9:
The crews of both flights were experienced, yet they found themselves in a perilous situation fueled by a web of miscommunication and technical inadequacies. The cockpit of Saudi Flight 763 was manned by Captain Khalid al-Shahabi, First Officer Nazir Khan, and Flight Engineer Ahmed Idris—each possessing substantial flying hours and experience. In contrast, the crew of Kazakhstan Airlines Flight 1907, led by Captain Alexander Chepenov, included familiar faces and a seasoned radio operator, all bound by a severe handicap: a poor command of the English language, which is the international standard for cockpit and air traffic communications.