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When a Russian Airliner Flew Into Cuban Power Lines

When a Russian Airliner Flew Into Cuban Power Lines

FromRadar Contact Lost: The Podcast


When a Russian Airliner Flew Into Cuban Power Lines

FromRadar Contact Lost: The Podcast

ratings:
Length:
57 minutes
Released:
Dec 5, 2023
Format:
Podcast episode

Description

On final approach to Havana’s José Martí International Airport in 1977, the Aeroflot Ilyushin IL-62M with 69 people on board, descended below the clouds and the pilot immediately was confronted with power lines between the plane and the runway – and the runway was close. The pilot attempted to pull the nose up to avoid the powerlines, but the emergency maneuver was not enough – the plane clipped the power lines and the steel-reinforced cables severed the vertical stabilizer from the rest of the plane.  Rendered uncontrollable, the plane pitched sharply down and to the right, impacting the ground within seconds of contact with the power lines. The plane burst into flames, and though the rear of the fuselage was relatively intact, there were only two survivors. What, exactly, happened on this day, some 46 years ago? An airliner from one of the world’s largest airlines clipping powerlines? A rookie mistake like this seems impossible. How did – how could – this happen? There aren’t many details, but the Radar Contact Lost team examines the those details and tries to fill in the black spaces.
Released:
Dec 5, 2023
Format:
Podcast episode

Titles in the series (16)

"Radar Contact Lost: The Podcast" will discuss the tragic circumstances involved with some of the worst airplane crashes. When weather conditions are at fault or are a contributing factor to the mishap (as it so often is), the meteorology will be explained. Hosted by a meteorologist with 40 years of aviation meteorology experience including Air Force, broadcast and commercial meteorology.