Part 9/11:
When the fire finally consumed the cabin, everyone on board lost their lives—301 passengers and crew—resulting in one of the deadliest disasters in aviation history. The consequences of Flight 163 serve as a stark reminder of how quickly scenarios can devolve into chaos when urgency is not prioritized.
Lessons Learned: A Turning Point for Aviation Safety
Investigations following this preventable tragedy highlighted significant vulnerabilities in both the flight crew's preparedness and the safety protocols for handling inflight fires. Reforms were urgently needed, prompting changes in equipment regulations and crew training protocols. Saudia improved its emergency checklist designs, reassessed its crew training, and ensured that inexperienced pilots were no longer paired together.