Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 | The Andes Flight Disaster

On October 12, 1972, a football team was travelling on the Uruguayan Air Force flight 571, but did not know it would turn into a catastrophic disaster. Here is an account of what exactly happened.

How the Crash Happened

On October 12, 1972, Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 took off from Carrasco International Airport (MVD) in Montevideo, Uruguay. The aircraft in question was a Fairchild FH-227D piloted by Colonel Julio César Ferradas. At the time, the colonel was training the co-pilot, Lieutenant-Colonel Dante Héctor Lagurara. The Old Christians Club amateur rugby team had chartered the plane to transport the team’s players, coaches, and family members to Santiago, Chile, for an exhibition match. A total of 45 people were on board: 40 passengers and 5 crew members.

Mid-flight, the plane encountered severe weather conditions that forced the co-pilot to land in Mendoza, Argentina, until the weather improved. Due to navigational error, the plane crashed into the Andes Mountains in Argentina.

The co-pilot mistakenly believed they had reached a safe point to descend and began lowering the plane’s altitude while still over mountainous terrain. Consequently, the plane struck a ridge at approximately 11,500 feet, shearing off its wings and tail before sliding down a glacier.

The crash initially resulted in the immediate death of 12 passengers. Five more succumbed to injuries shortly after, leaving 28 survivors initially.

The remaining survivors faced extreme conditions, including subzero temperatures and limited food supplies. They constructed makeshift shelters from the wreckage and rationed food until it ran out within a week.

On October 29, tragedy struck again. Two avalanches buried the fuselage, killing an additional eight survivors.

News of the aircraft incident began to disseminate, and authorities commenced a search and rescue operation for the missing persons and the aircraft debris.

While searching for the plane, the survivors saw several rescue planes flying overhead in the days that followed, but no one searching for them was able to spot the white plane wreckage in the snow.

They found a small transistor radio from the plane and heard the devastating news that the search had been called off and they were all presumed dead.

Despite the devastating news, they tried to maintain high morale and resorted to other solutions to stay alive. This included the tragic decision to resort to cannibalism.

Days and months passed, and the number of survivors dwindled to 16. One day, they came across two Chilean people who hurriedly notified the authorities. Finally, on December 22 and 23, 1972, two and a half months after the crash, the remaining 16 survivors were rescued. Their survival made news headlines around the world.

Was the Crash Preventable?

Could the crash have been prevented? This is a question burning many aviation enthusiasts’ minds.

Unfortunately, the answer is yes. While weather was a contributing key factor, investigations concluded that co-pilot error led to the crash. Héctor Lagurara, the co-pilot, failed to see that the instrument readings showed the aircraft was still about 70 kilometers east of Curcio.

Thinking they had already reached Curico, Lagurara radioed air traffic control, which gave him permission to descend. However, he failed to determine the correct altitude, resulting in the crash.

How to Prevent such Crashes?

• Knowledge of weather conditions

It is crucial to know the weather conditions in any country before taking off and landing planes. If there is bad weather, flights should be canceled or delayed.

• Having food reserves

We cannot overstate the significance of having food reserves in the event of disasters. In the unfortunate event of a disaster, having at least a month’s worth of food on board is essential.

• Effective communication tools

Communication devices like long-range radios and emergency beacons can significantly save time and lives after a plane crash. These tools facilitate rescue efforts and enable survivors to maintain contact with one another.

Pablo Vierci, who grew up among many of the survivors, wrote “The Society of the Snow” in 2009. The book has since been adapted into films, recounting the tragedy and their challenges to find rescue.

History is still full of accidents that took place, but do you think a crash like Flight 571 could happen with today’s advanced aviation technology and equipment?

Eman Abdallah

Eman Abdallah is a dedicated content writer with a strong passion for creating meaningful and impactful content. With a deep understanding of SEO principles, she specializes in writing articles that are both informative and optimized to rank well on search engines. Over the past year, Eman has honed her skills in creating content that captures readers’ attention. Her work reflects a balance of creativity and strategy, making her a reliable voice in the world of content writing.

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