Human carelessness is the primary cause of most collisions. When we board an airplane, we entrust our lives to the pilot in the hope that he will perform his duties at the highest level. The fact is that if it weren’t for pilot error, the world would have witnessed many horrific air disasters that could have been easily avoided.
Aeroflot Flight 593, 1994
On March 23, 1994, this plane tragically crashed on an Aeroflot flight from Moscow to Kong Kong. When the plane crashed in Siberia, every person on board died, seventy-five in all. Ultimately, it was determined that the co-pilot’s decision to allow his children to play with the controls of the plane – he was second in command to co-pilot Yaroslav Kudrinsky – caused the disaster.
Eldar (15) and Yana (12) had access to the captain’s chair in the cockpit. The plane was in autopilot mode so they were playing with the controls when they were disabled. However, Eldar had to return the system to manual mode by holding down the control column for a full thirty seconds.
It was too late when the captain and co-pilot realized what had happened and tried to regain control. The plane collided with a mountain.
TransAsia Airways Flight 235, 2015
In February 2015, TransAsia Airways Flight 235 tragically crashed into a Taiwan highway bridge before plunging into the Keelung River.
The accident occurred shortly after the plane left Taipei’s Songshan Airport. One of the engines lost power, and the pilot inadvertently shut down the only operational engine by ejecting the wrong shuttle, resulting in a catastrophic disaster that killed forty-eight people. Fifteen of the passengers on board escaped alive.
The pilot said, “Wow, he pulled the throttle on the wrong side,” before passing out.
Tuninter Flight 1153 from 2009
Rather than following emergency protocols, the pilot and co-pilot of the plane, which was en route from Djerba, Tunisia, to Bari, Italy, were praying when the plane ran out of fuel due to a mechanical problem. As a result, the plane crashed into the Mediterranean Sea.
A few years later, the captain and co-pilot received 10 years in prison when they were found responsible for the deaths of sixteen passengers on their journey.
The Guardian claims to have heard Captain Shafik Al Gharbi, the pilot, plead for help from “Allah and his Prophet Muhammad”.
The crew tried to regain control of the plane but ended up spooked and allowed the crash, according to evidence. Twenty-three passengers were alive after being pulled from the sea.
Pan Am and KLM collided
What is meant In March 1977 one of the deadliest aviation disasters occurred when two Boeing 747s, KLM Flight
At Tenerife Airport, 1736 and Pan Am Flight 1736 collided.
As a result of this terrible disaster, there were 583 victims.
Poor communication between air traffic control and the KLM flight crew was the cause of this disaster.
The KLM plane attempted to take off, while the Pan Am plane remained on the runway.
Visibility was blocked by thick fog, making it impossible for the two planes to see each other.
Flight 202 from Airblue, Islamabad
This domestic passenger flight crashed on 28 July 2010 near Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, killing all 146 passengers and six crew members.
It is believed that if the co-pilot had questioned the pilot about his numerous mistakes, this tragedy would have been averted.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Pakistan, the co-pilot suffered humiliation from his superior during the flight, resulting in a decrease in his self-worth.
It is said that the captain behaved harshly and snobbishly with the co-pilot. He even ignored air traffic control’s weather advisory. Unfortunately, as things turned out, the co-pilot did not meet the captain. Battling extreme monsoon conditions, the co-pilot failed to intervene and the pilot lost control of the aircraft due to panic. As a result, the plane crashed into the Margalla hills.
Air Florida Flight 90, 1982
Multiple errors, one of which was forgetting to turn on the deicing system, caused Air Florida Flight 90, which was flying from Washington, DC, to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to crash into the Potomac River, killing 74 people.
The crew decided to use reverse thrust in an attempt to manage the ice build-up after takeoff during the snowstorm, instead of returning to the gate for the appropriate de-icing procedures. Moreover, even though they noticed a power problem, they decided not to abort the takeoff.
Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, 1972
Four days after Christmas 1972, a burned-out light bulb near the end of an Eastern Airlines Tristar flight from New York’s JFK to Miami caused the captain and co-pilot to veer off course, causing the plane to crash into the Florida Everglades. A lever was inadvertently struck which disabled the aircraft’s autopilot function while they were engaged in checking the damaged landing gear indicator light.
By the time they realized they were losing altitude, it was too late to do anything.
The horrific crash killed 101 people, including the captain. We had seventy-five survivors.
It saddens us even more to know that these tragedies could have been prevented.
The tragic plane crashes detailed above underscore a sobering reality: many plane crashes are caused by human error, often compounded by poor communication, carelessness, or poor judgment. Each incident exposes critical errors made by pilots and crew members and highlights the immense responsibility placed on aircraft operators.
In cases such as Aeroflot Flight 593, where children were allowed to manipulate cockpit controls, or TransAsia Airways Flight 235, where pilot error led to engine failure and a fatal crash, the consequences were devastating. These incidents remind us of the importance of rigorous training, following safety protocols, and maintaining a high level of professionalism at all times.
Similarly, the disaster of Tuninter Flight 1153 serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of not following emergency procedures. Relying on prayer instead of practical measures, instead of taking decisive action when faced with running out of fuel, resulted in tragic loss of life and subsequent legal consequences.
The 1977 collision between Pan Am and KLM at Tenerife Airport remains one of the deadliest aviation accidents in history, mainly due to poor communications and poor visibility in thick fog. This disaster underscores the critical need for clear communication between air traffic control and flight crews, especially in adverse weather conditions.
In more recent tragedies such as Airblue Flight 202 in Islamabad and Air Florida Flight 90 from Washington, DC to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, lapses in judgment and failure to respond appropriately to weather conditions played a key role. These incidents demonstrate the importance of effective cockpit communication, decision-making under pressure, and adherence to safety procedures to prevent accidents.
Finally, Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 serves as a harrowing reminder of how even a small distraction can lead to catastrophic consequences. A burned-out light bulb led to a fatal crash in the Florida Everglades, highlighting the need for pilots to focus on critical flight operations and not be distracted by nonessential tasks.
Ultimately, these tragedies underscore the importance of continuous training, strict adherence to safety protocols, and fostering a culture of responsibility in the aviation industry. By learning from past mistakes and implementing strict safety measures, the aviation community can strive to prevent future disasters and ensure the safety of passengers and crew.