Misbar’s Analysis
Plane crashes are prevalent, despite air travel becoming one of the safest forms of transportation throughout history. Yet, tragedies still occur from time to time.
From catastrophic mid-air collisions to mechanical failures and human errors, plane crashes have claimed the lives of hundreds, even thousands, throughout history.
Following the recent Azerbaijan Airlines crash on Christmas Day, December 25, 2024, which killed at least 38 people, there has been renewed questioning of the deadliest plane crashes in history.
What Are the Worst Plane Crashes in History?
Though many plane crashes have occurred since the onset of air travel, here are the worst crashes in history that resulted in a high number of fatalities.
The Tenerife Airport Disaster
The Tenerife airport disaster occurred on March 27, 1977, and is considered the worst plane crash in history due to the highest number of fatalities.
At least 560 people were killed when a KLM Boeing 747 attempted to take off and collided with a taxiing Pan Am 747 at Los Rodeos Airport on the Canary Island of Tenerife, Spain, BBC reported.
According to the British media outlet, all 248 people, including crew, on the KLM aircraft died. The Pan Am plane was carrying 16 crew members and 378 passengers, of whom only 61 survived.
The BBC noted that pilot error during takeoff was the primary cause of the crash, with the KLM captain believing he had received approval from air traffic control to take off.
The Japan Airlines Flight 123 Crash
On August 12, 1985, Japan Airlines Flight 123, departing from Tokyo, crashed shortly after takeoff.
According to CNN, at least 520 people, including crew, lost their lives in the Boeing 747 crash in the mountains of central Japan. Only four people survived the deadly crash. The crash was blamed on faulty repair work by aircraft manufacturer Boeing, according to the BBC.
The 1996 Charkhi Dadri Crash
Two planes—Saudia Flight 763, operated by a Boeing 747, and Kazakhstan Airlines Flight 1907, operated by a Russian Ilyushin Il-76—collided mid-air over the town of Charkhi Dadri, near Delhi, India, on November 12, 1996, The Washington Post reported.
The two planes crashed mid-air, killing 349 people on board both flights, the American newspaper reported.
The Washington Post revealed that officials said 229 passengers and 23 crew members were aboard Saudi Arabian Airlines Flight 763 when the crash occurred.
On the other hand, Kazakhstan Airlines Flight 1907 was carrying 28 passengers and 10 crew members, according to transport officials in Kazakhstan. According to The Washington Post, the collision was primarily caused by the Kazakh pilot flying below the assigned clearance altitude.
Read More
