Posted on 01/05/2018 10:10:57 PM PST by BenLurkin
Tenerife was the very first thing that came to mind.
Not on the tarmac.
Both planes were 737-800’s.
Prayers offered up in thanks for a successful ending.
Wasn’t one of the planes in Tenerife taking off or landing when they collided? One of the saddest airline accidents in memory.
Yep, a series of occurrences that led to tragedy.
We air traffic controllers studied that in detail. It was a sick comedy errors, with many different factors involved, but the biggest error (on the runway, not the tarmac) was the fact that the KLM pilot was NEVER cleared for takeoff. The visibility was so bad, the tower controllers (like me) could not see the KLM begin to roll, or they would have tried to stop it. Language barriers contributed to the tragedy too.
Thanks. It was a whole stack of things that went wrong, which is what usually happens in situations like these.
Yes, there was that too. This airport was in no way geared for this. The controllers and the entire airport were at a disadvantage. Even with all the other factors, if the KLM had not taken off without a clearance, it still had a halfways decent chance of working out with no collision.
There was a couple who lived several blocks away who were killed in that collision. I did not know them, but from the time I learned of the accident and their involvement, and to this day, I feel great sadness when I pass that house. Such a tragedy happening on what was to be a wonderful vacation. Many of the local victims are buried in the same cemetery where my parents and grandparents are, and there is a nice memorial for them.
It bothered me for years, as an air traffic controller, and I had nothing to do with it.
Y’All hold a job that most people rarely even think about the Responseability and Stress You deal with constantly.
Thank You.
It amazes Me how stupid most people are. If I’d have been on that plane and the other pax were reaching in the overhead for bags I would probably have punched them out and thrown them down the Emergency Ramp.
Luggage and items can be replaced!
Stupid, Stupid, Stupid...
Does anyone, anywhere use tarmac anymore? Asphalt cement or concrete cement are the standard for airfield pavement.
probably weed smokers.
Tarmac is what it is referred to. It’s a commonly-used word, not a description of the actual material.
Even the "Miracle on the Hudson" where they successfully landed on the Hudson River and needed to quickly evacuate a plane that was filling up with water, people were trying to take personal belonging with them.
My other pet peeve is those who dress in sandals, flip flops and nylon clothing when flying. These are the people who find out that fast-spreading fire on a plane is serious.
I am sure many of these people loved the Toronto cold in their bare feet.
I fly 100,000 miles plus per year.
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