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Moments later, deep in atmospheric disturbances caused by the mountain's winds, the cockpit was alerted to "terrain, terrain," but delays in pilot response compounded the danger they faced. Despite applying some corrective power, it was too late; the aircraft collided with the mountain at a lower altitude than allowed.
The Tragic Conclusion
The aftermath was devastating. All 180 souls on board lost their lives in a fiery wreck, marking a grim moment in aviation history. Investigations revealed that the primary factors contributing to the disaster included pilot error—specifically descending below the minimum holding altitude—and critical miscommunications caused by confused terminology and expectations between the pilots and the approach controller.