A LATAM Airbus A320 operating a flight in Brazil nearly landed at the wrong airport, in a completely different city, as reported by The Aviation Herald (and thanks to reader Carlos for flagging this). How could that happen?
Continue reading: Oops: LATAM Airbus A320 Nearly Lands At Wrong Airport
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Reminds me of the Varig 254 incident from
1989 or so. Look it up. That was worse but similar
Frazzled and overworked, maybe - but if you've spent any meaningful time around Brazilians, you know that admitting mistakes is simply not a cultural norm. Delightful country with friendly people, but they can be obstinate to the point of lunacy. As noted above, read about the Varig 254 flight in 1989.
Wow -- interesting story. I was very surprised at this line from Wikipedia: "passengers without fastened seatbelts were flung to the front of the airplane". If your plane is about to crash land in the jungle, there really is no excuse not to have your seatbelt on.
Just to point out that SJP airport is within the city (surrounded by houses and building complex) whereas the Catanduva Airport isn’t.
Clearly a hookie mistake which could have had major implications
Catanduva could be translated as “Pickingrape” lol
" they ignored the other hints"
Let me make an assumption, two guys refuse to ask for directions.
This one is quite famous.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1991-12-23-9104250064-story.html
Another pilot error who double down by ignoring technology warnings.
It's time to let machines handle the flying.
25 + years ago an airliner bound for RAP landed instead seven miles beyond at Ellsworth AFB. They mistook 13,500 ft rwy 31 for 8,700 ft 32.
Fabricated CVR: "Nice landing, let's find our gate. Hey, why are all those B-52s here at the municipal airport??"
(brief pause)
"Oh, crap!"
That reminds me of a PanAm flight from LHR to SFO I did as a kid. I had the habit to ask the pilots after landing, if I could have the flight map for collection purposes. Then, they usually had a map on which they circled the ways points and destination airport, noting down the relevant frequencies etc. Also the PanAm captain was happy to share ... but when I analyzed it later in the hotel, I found out that they planned for LHR to SJC ... the initial way points made sense for SFO, but the final ones were clearly for SJC!
The clip of the ATC recordings you posted has them speaking not in English. I thought all ATC communications were in English globally?
not for domestic flights. ATC comms are in english only when there are international flights, AFAIK
I read that too Nate. I mean stupidity doesn't go far enough. It was a miracle only 12 people died whilst plane was hoovering over the Amazon canopy.
Thanks. Very little info online but here is a photo of the plane on small runway.
https://www.facebook.com/462295373890306/posts/690987141021127/