Part 6/9:
As they prepared for landing, they entered the approach phase, but signs of fatigue began influencing their decision-making and communication. The captain, increasingly focused on an perceived height disadvantage, disregarded their approach protocol, opting for a faster descent approach that was not aligned with proper procedures.
Moment of Impact
As they continued descending under incorrect assumptions about their altitude, they failed to recognize alarming discrepancies within their instrumentation and communication. A critical breakdown in situational awareness ensued, culminating in a catastrophic decision to continue the approach despite lacking visual confirmation of the ground or runway—a violation of the minimum descent altitude.