The deadliest plane crash in history occurred on March 27, 1977, and involved two Boeing 747s colliding on a foggy runway.
Tenerife Airport Disaster
The disaster took place at Tenerife North Airport (formerly Los Rodeos Airport) in the Canary Islands, Spain. KLM Flight 4805 and Pan Am Flight 1736 collided, resulting in the deaths of 583 people. This event remains the single deadliest incident in aviation history. NOVA | The Deadliest Plane Crash
Contributing Factors
Several factors contributed to the severity of the accident:
- Fog: Dense fog severely limited visibility on the runway.
- Communication Issues: Misunderstandings between the air traffic control and the pilots.
- Runway Congestion: The airport was congested due to a bomb threat at Gran Canaria Airport.
- Pilot Error: The KLM captain initiated takeoff without explicit clearance.
Aftermath and Safety Improvements
The Tenerife disaster prompted significant changes in aviation safety protocols:
- Standardized Phraseology: Clearer and more standardized communication procedures were implemented.
- Crew Resource Management (CRM): Emphasis on teamwork and communication within the cockpit was increased.
- Ground Radar: The use of ground radar systems to monitor aircraft movement on the runway was expanded.
The Tenerife airport disaster was a pivotal moment in aviation history. The lessons learned from the crash have significantly improved air travel safety worldwide.
