Tenerife: Remebering the World's deadliest aviation disaster

Today marks the 40th anniversary of the deadliest aviation disaster in the world. This was when two Boeing 747s belonging to Pan Am and KLM collided on the runway at Los Rodeos Airport at the Island of Tenerife leaving 583 people dead and 61 survivors.

The events, the coincidences and the errors that led to the disaster are incredible to believe. A terrorist attack at a different airport, Gando Airport that led to the diversion of all flights to Los Rodeos Airport, miscommunication, foggy weather and pilot error all played important roles in the crash. The interesting aspect of it is that all the events happened on the ground.

forty years ago, Tenerife, a quiet Spanish island was suddenly home to the deadliest airline disaster in the world both then and now.

The two planes were diverted to Los Rodeos Airport after a bomb explosion at Gando Airport, Las Palmas, Canary Island.

The two 747s (a Pan Am) and (a KLM) ended up on an infrequently used runway.


As the planes waited for several hours, an unusually dense fog descended. The KLM plane had already refuelled. eventually, the tower sent a message to the KLM flight to taxi to the end of the runway and turn around and then instructed the Pan Am flight to follow.
PH-BUF The ill fated 747 involved in the accident. Photo credit: Wikipedia


The KLM plane got to position and announced they were ready to go.

The Pan Am pilots were startled and announced they were still on the runway.

Because of the radio interference, the KLM pilots did not get the message. Just when the first officer was receiving the ATC clearance, the captain interrupted him and started the take off roll on the same runway the Pan Am 747 was taxiing. As the Pan Am pilots saw the plane speeding towards them, they tried swerving off the runway but it was too late. The KLM plane did not lift up fast enough because it was heavy as it lifted off, the main landing gear hit the Pan AM fuselage on the top sending the KLM plane crashing down and ended up in flames. Everyone onboard the KLM 747 was killed. But inside the Pan Am plane, there were survivors and at the time of the collision, the engine of the Pan Am plane was still running.
Wreckage of the airplanes Photo Credit: Wikpedia


Investigators apportioned most of the blame on the KLM pilot, Capt. Jacob Van Zanten. Van Zanten was an exceptional pilot and was the face of the company and was on KLM billboards and advertisement.
KLM ad that contains Jacob Van Zanten


The fundamental causes are still there - Runway congestion, Air Traffic Control communications and pilot errors but safety standards over time has improved.


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