The Tragic Story of Airline Flight 965

On December 20th, 1995, a tragedy occurred that shook the aviation industry to its core. Airline Flight 965, a commercial flight operated by American Airlines, crashed into a mountain in Colombia, killing 159 of the 163 people on board. It was a horrific event that devastated the families of the victims and raised questions about the safety of air travel worldwide.

The flight was en route from Miami to Cali, Colombia when it encountered bad weather and low visibility. According to the investigation report, the crew made a series of errors that led to the crash. The captain, who had only been to Cali once before, failed to properly brief himself on the approach and landing procedures. Additionally, the flight crew misinterpreted the altitude of their destination airport, resulting in the aircraft descending too quickly.

But the errors didn’t stop there. The first officer, who was the pilot flying the plane, ignored several warnings from the ground proximity warning system (GPWS), which alerts pilots when they are in danger of colliding with the ground. The GPWS warned the crew of the impending terrain, and even announced “terrain! terrain!” repeatedly in the cockpit. However, the first officer thought it was a false alarm and continued with the descent.

The plane struck the side of a mountain at a speed of 483 knots, instantly killing everyone on board except for four people. The accident was the deadliest in American Airlines’ history and remains the deadliest aviation accident in Colombian history.

The tragic story of Airline Flight 965 highlights the importance of proper crew communication and situational awareness in aviation. The crew failed to communicate effectively and did not properly interpret warnings from the GPWS. However, the accident also exposed human error and the limitations of technology.

Since the crash of Flight 965, the aviation industry has taken significant steps to improve safety. For example, crew resource management (CRM) training, which focuses on improving communication and teamwork in the cockpit, has become standard practice for commercial pilots. Additionally, the GPWS system has been improved, providing more detailed and accurate warning messages to pilots.

In conclusion, the story of Airline Flight 965 is a tragic reminder of the importance of safety and situational awareness in aviation. The lessons learned from this accident have led to significant improvements in the industry, but they also highlight the fact that human error is still a prominent factor in accidents. It is crucial that crew members continue to receive proper training and that technology is constantly improved to ensure the safety of everyone on board.