Pilot voices caught on tape as plane sinks into ocean and everyone listens in shock
A Scary Day in the Sky: The Alaska Airlines Flight 261 Crash
On January 31, 2000, something very sad happened in the sky. Alaska Airlines Flight 261 was flying from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, to Seattle, Washington. People on board were excited about their trip. Some were coming home. Others were going on vacation. But nobody knew this flight would end in a terrible way.
There were 88 people on the plane. This included 83 passengers, three flight attendants, and two pilots. The pilots were Captain Ted Thompson and First Officer Bill Tansky. Both men had flown for a long time. Together, they had over 12,000 hours flying the same kind of plane, a McDonnell Douglas MD-80. They were very experienced.
Trouble in the Sky
As the plane flew over the Pacific Ocean, something went wrong. The pilots noticed they had lost control of the plane’s up and down movements. This is called "vertical control." In the cockpit, Captain Thompson told air traffic control, "Not a dive yet but we've lost vertical control of our airplane." They tried hard to fix the problem.
First Officer Tansky was worried. He said, "No we don't," when Captain Thompson thought they had control again. The pilots worked together to try and make the plane safe.
Other planes nearby were watching. A pilot in another plane told air traffic control, "The Alaska Airlines jet just started to do a big, huge plunge." Another pilot said Flight 261 was "definitely in a nose down position." This meant the plane's front was pointing toward the ocean.
Soon, the plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean. All 88 people on board died. The plane was destroyed when it hit the water. It was a very sad day for many families.
What Experts Found About the Crash
After the crash, the Federal Aviation Agency and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) did an investigation. They wanted to find out what happened so it would not happen again.
They discovered the cause of the crash. The part of the plane that helps it move up and down, called the horizontal stabilizer trim system, failed. The special screw that turns this part, called a jackscrew, stopped working. The threads that help the jackscrew turn were worn out. This happened because Alaska Airlines did not put enough oil, called "lubrication," on the jackscrew.
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The NTSB said in their report: "The probable cause of this accident was a loss of airplane pitch control resulting from the in-flight failure of the horizontal stabilizer trim system jackscrew assembly's Acme nut threads. The thread failure was caused by excessive wear resulting from Alaska Airline's insufficient lubrication of the jackscrew assembly."
This accident is still remembered as one of the worst in recent history. People talk about it so that everyone learns to keep airplanes safe.
A Tragic Crash Near Kuala Lumpur
Another very sad plane crash happened almost 36 years ago. It was on February 18, 1989, near Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia. The plane was a Boeing 747-200. It was flying from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur. There were only four people on board—three crew members and one passenger.
The plane crashed into a hillside just nine miles from the runway. It happened early in the morning, before the sun came up. The crash was so bad that nobody survived.
The Last Moments in the Cockpit
A recording from inside the cockpit was made public. People could hear what the pilots said before the crash. The captain asked, "So you got the ILS set, right?" The ILS is a tool that helps pilots land safely. The co-pilot answered, "Yeah."
The captain started to say, "I'm gonna put you on 14-7, that will give you..." but then he stopped. He realized they were getting too close to the ground. Another crew member said, "Oh," and someone shouted, "I've got a hundred feet on this—S!"*
During the whole 29-second recording, a warning system in the plane kept repeating "pull up." This means the plane was too close to the ground.
Why the Crash Happened
The investigation found out the pilots misunderstood a message from air traffic control. They thought they could go down to 400 feet when they should have stayed at 2400 feet. This mistake made them crash into the hillside.
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The report said: "The commander, after being cleared by ATC to carry out a NDB approach runway 33, misread the descent clearance and descended to 400ft instead of 2400ft." The pilots started to go down too early.
People on social media talked about the crash. One person said, "Such a tragic event. This highlights the importance of proper training and communication in aviation safety." Another wrote, "Tragic incident highlighting the importance of crew coordination and adherence to procedures. A somber reminder of aviation safety."
The Sad Story of the San Diego Plane Crash
On May 22, a small private plane crashed near San Diego. The plane fell into Murphy Canyon in the early morning. There were six people on board, including Daniel Williams, a drummer, and David Shapiro, a music agent.
Firefighters rushed to help. Dan Eddy, the assistant fire chief, said, "We have jet fuel all over the place. Our main goal is to search all these homes and get everybody out right now."
Just hours before the crash, Daniel Williams posted photos and videos on Instagram. He was excited to fly. In one video, he said, "Hey. Hey … you … look at me … I'm the (co)pilot now." He also tagged Dave Shapiro in his posts.
Dave Shapiro was the co-founder of Sound Talent Group, a company that worked with many music bands. The company said, "We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues and friends." Many people were sad to hear about the accident.
Three employees from Sound Talent Group died. Their names were Dave Shapiro, Kendall Fortner, and Emma Huke. Also, Dominic Damian and photographer Celina Kenyon were on the plane. No one survived.
Why the Plane Crashed
Dan Baker from the National Transportation Safety Board explained that it was foggy that morning. The airport's weather alert system was not working because of a power surge. The runway lights were also out. These things made it very hard for the pilot to land safely. The investigation is still going on.
A FedEx Plane Catches Fire After Takeoff
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On February 1, a FedEx cargo plane had a big problem after taking off from Newark Airport. The plane was a Boeing 767-3S2F. Just after it left the ground, one of its engines caught on fire.
A video showed flames coming from the engine. The pilots quickly turned the plane around to land back at the airport. Fire trucks were waiting and put out the fire fast.
What Caused the Engine to Catch Fire
Experts believe a bird flew into the engine. This is called a "bird strike." Sometimes, birds can cause a lot of damage to planes.
Lenis Valens, a spokesperson for the Port Authority and FedEx, said, "There were no reported injuries, and fire was contained to the engine."
Audio from the airport recorded someone saying, "Shut down for a possible bird strike. We need to return to the airport." Soon after, another person said, "We believe we saw their engine fall off the right wing."
The plane landed safely at 8:07 am, just nine minutes after takeoff. FedEx said, "We are thankful for the quick actions of our crew and first responders." The plane was checked and later flew to Indiana.
Bird strikes are becoming more common. Experts are trying to find out why and how to stop them.
Other Recent Airplane Accidents
Lately, there have been more problems with airplanes around the world. For example, on February 25, a Southwest plane almost hit a private jet on the runway at Chicago Midway Airport. On February 24, a Delta Air Lines flight had to turn back when smoke filled the cabin.
A Canadian plane crashed, rolled onto its back, but everyone survived. There was also a very sad helicopter crash over the Potomac River. A Black Hawk helicopter hit a commercial plane, killing 67 people. Many of them were children and their families.
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These accidents have made people worry about flying. Experts are working hard to make air travel safer for everyone.
Family Remembers Pilot After Potomac River Crash
On January 29, an American Airlines plane and a US military helicopter crashed over the Potomac River near Washington, DC. The airline flight was number 5342. It came from Wichita, Kansas, and had 64 passengers and crew. The helicopter, a Black Hawk with three crew, left from Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
All 64 people on the plane and the three in the helicopter died. The crash was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board.
Jonathan Campos: The Pilot's Last Call
The pilot of the American Airlines plane was Jonathan Campos. Before the crash, he talked to his uncle, John Lane, on the phone. They spoke for 10 minutes as Campos was boarding the plane. Lane said, "He sounded really happy. He was looking forward to going on a cruise next week."
Campos had always wanted to be a pilot. He played with toy planes as a child. He worked hard in flight school and wanted to fly bigger planes. His family was very proud of him. Lane said, "We are proud of him and what a good kid he was."
American Airlines made a statement: "Our concern is for the passengers and crew on board the aircraft. We are in contact with authorities and assisting with emergency response efforts."
They gave a phone number for families who wanted information. If you need to talk to someone about losing a loved one, they suggested calling GrieveWell.
Why Plane Safety Matters
Every time a plane crash happens, experts try to learn why. By finding out what went wrong, they hope to stop it from happening again.
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Sometimes, crashes are caused by mistakes. Other times, it is because something on the plane broke. Weather can also be a problem. Pilots, flight attendants, and airport workers all have important jobs to keep us safe.
What We Can Learn About Flying
Flying is one of the safest ways to travel. But when an accident happens, it is very serious. That is why people work hard to check planes and train pilots. Everyone wants to be sure that every flight is safe.
Experts say it is important for pilots to talk clearly to each other and to air traffic control. They must follow all the rules. Planes must be checked often to make sure all their parts work well.
Listening to the Voices From the Cockpit
When there is a plane crash, investigators listen to the cockpit voice recorder. This special machine records what the pilots say and what happens in the cockpit. By hearing the pilots' words, experts can understand what went wrong.
Sometimes, these recordings are shared with the public. They help people see how hard the pilots tried to save the plane. They show how important it is to stay calm and work as a team.
Keeping Planes Safe for the Future
Airplanes have many safety rules. After every accident, these rules are checked and improved. Airlines must look after their planes and make sure every part is working right.
When pilots and flight attendants do their job well, and when planes are checked carefully, flying stays safe for everyone. This is why learning from the past is so important.
Hope for Safer Skies
Families who lost loved ones in these crashes want the world to remember. They hope that by sharing their stories, other people will not have to face the same sadness. Everyone who works in aviation tries to make air travel safer each day.
If you ever feel nervous about flying, remember that most flights are safe. Pilots and crews are highly trained. Planes are built with many safety features. Experts all over the world work every day to make skies safer for us all.
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