Maut di Bandara Tenerife 1977: Kecelakaan Pesawat yang mengubah Dunia Penerbangan

Summary

The 1977 Tenerife airport disaster remains the deadliest aviation accident in history, with 583 people killed. The collision involved two Boeing 747s—KLM Flight 4805 and Pan Am Flight 1736—on the same runway at Los Rodeos Airport in Tenerife, caused by human error, poor communication, and dense fog. The incident occurred after a terrorist bombing at Las Palmas forced multiple planes to divert. Miscommunication between the pilots and air traffic control, combined with low visibility, led to a catastrophic crash. This tragedy prompted significant changes in aviation communication and safety procedures to prevent future disasters.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Tenerife airport disaster occurred on March 27, 1977, and is the deadliest aviation accident in history, with 583 fatalities.
• 😀 The accident involved a collision between two Boeing 747s, operated by KLM and Pan American (PNM), at Los Rodeos Airport in Tenerife.
• 😀 The crash was caused by a combination of human error, poor visibility due to thick fog, and miscommunication between the aircraft crews and air traffic control (ATC).
• 😀 Both aircraft were diverted to Tenerife after a terrorist bombing at Las Palmas Airport led to the closure of the latter.
• 😀 KLM flight 4805 initiated takeoff without receiving explicit permission from ATC, mistakenly believing they were cleared.
• 😀 The PNM flight 1736 was still on the runway, trying to find a taxiing route amidst the fog, unaware of the KLM plane's position.
• 😀 The collision occurred at high speed, resulting in a massive explosion and the destruction of both aircraft.
• 😀 A total of 583 out of 644 passengers and crew died in the disaster, with only 61 survivors from the PNM aircraft.
• 😀 Captain Jacob Van Zanten of KLM was found to be primarily responsible for the crash due to his decision to begin takeoff without clear permission from ATC.
• 😀 The disaster led to significant changes in aviation regulations, including the adoption of standard phraseology for air traffic communication and improved cockpit procedures.

Q & A

What was the Tenerife Airport disaster in 1977?

The Tenerife Airport disaster in 1977 was the deadliest aviation accident in history, involving the collision of two Boeing 747 aircraft, operated by KLM and PNM. The disaster resulted in the deaths of 583 people out of 644 onboard.

What caused the Tenerife Airport disaster?

The main causes of the Tenerife disaster were human error, poor communication, and weather conditions, specifically thick fog. Additionally, the KLM captain's decision to take off without proper clearance from air traffic control contributed significantly to the crash.

What was the role of human error in the Tenerife disaster?

Human error played a crucial role in the Tenerife disaster, especially the miscommunication between the air traffic control tower, the KLM flight crew, and the PNM flight crew. The KLM captain, Jacob van Zanten, mistakenly believed he had been cleared for takeoff when he had not, leading to the collision.

How many people survived the Tenerife disaster?

Only 61 people survived the Tenerife disaster, all of whom were from the PNM flight, as the KLM aircraft was almost entirely destroyed in the crash.

What was the weather like at Tenerife airport during the disaster?

The weather at Tenerife airport was extremely foggy, which caused visibility to drop significantly. This thick fog played a significant role in the disaster as it made it difficult for the flight crews to see each other and for air traffic control to issue clear instructions.

How did the terrorist bombing at Las Palmas airport relate to the Tenerife disaster?

The Tenerife disaster occurred after a terrorist bombing at Las Palmas airport in the Canary Islands. The bombing caused Las Palmas to close, forcing diverted flights, including those from KLM and PNM, to land at the smaller Tenerife airport, which became overcrowded and further complicated the situation.

What was the impact of the Tenerife disaster on aviation safety?

The Tenerife disaster led to significant changes in aviation safety, particularly in flight communication and air traffic management. It highlighted the need for clear, standardized communication protocols, leading to the adoption of more rigorous procedures for handling aircraft during poor visibility conditions and better management of airport traffic.

How did communication issues contribute to the disaster?

Communication issues, particularly unclear instructions and the use of thick accents by air traffic controllers, contributed greatly to the disaster. The KLM captain misunderstood the clearance for takeoff, while the PNM crew struggled to follow air traffic instructions due to poor visibility.

Who was held responsible for the Tenerife disaster?

Captain Jacob van Zanten of KLM Flight 4805 was held primarily responsible for the Tenerife disaster. He initiated the takeoff without proper clearance, which was a critical error. The investigation also cited communication failures and poor judgment as contributing factors.

What changes were made in the aftermath of the Tenerife disaster?

In the aftermath of the Tenerife disaster, new regulations were introduced, including clearer communication standards for air traffic control and pilots, especially concerning the use of language. Airport traffic management procedures were also improved to prevent such a tragedy from occurring again in the future.